

J29 IPlyiqoq'tli 


Minneapolis, 


Minn. 





■v 






m 


ale of 



Lights and Shadows of the Street Car Strike in Minneapolis 
and St. Paul , Minnesota, Beginning April 11, 1889. 


BY EVA GAY. 

0 


ILLUSTRATED. 


1 i-JL 1-bob 

/SSZ'l 



First EdtHoiv— 12 t 000. 


MINNEAPOLIS : 
1889 . 


Entered, according to act of Congress, with the Librarian at Washington, D. 0. 

May, 1889. 


FROM THE PRESS OF THOS. A. CLARK & CO. 
INDUSTRIAL PUBLISHERS. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


“A Tale of the Twin Cities,” was not written as a 
solace of weary hours, nor at the earnest solicitation of 
friends. It is not offered to a patient public as an artis- 
tic literary production nor as a sworn statement of facts 
occurring during the strike of street railway employes, 
of Minneapolis and St. Paul ; but rather as a souvenir of 
the incidents which made this strike one of the most re- 
markable events in the history of the North Star state. 
Should the reader note a lack of continuity, an absence 
of polished phrases, a dearth of imaginative power or 
other serious defects in the work; a reasonable excuse 
may be found in the fact that the writer belongs to the 
sex whose members are popularly supposed not to have 
any abilities outside of that involved in managing a 
kitchen or choosing a spring costume. 


Eva Gay. 






A «>f tKe (£wm 


CHAPTER I. 

THE MINNEAPOLIS EXODUS. 

“No street cars running!” 

“Why?” 

“Because all the employes have quit work.” 

This laconic conversation was repeated with few var- 
iations all the afternoon and evening of Thursday, April 
11, 1889. The fact that neither cars nor motors were 
running, became more mournfully apparent every hour. 

At 11:30 in the morning the motors disappeared. 
Then two men were seen driving about in a buggy and 
directing each driver to pull his car into the barn and 
leave it there. The Fourth avenue cars went next after 
the motor, and one by one all those on the other eight 
lines in the city followed the example until by 4:00 in 
the afternoon not a tinkle of a caT bell could be heard. 
All had vanished, as if in obedience to the stroke of 
some magician’s wand. Washington avenue looked des- 
olate without the cars, which always have seemed a per- 
manent feature of the landscape. 

Citizens crowded the pavements and discussed this 
wondrous occurrence. Between the hours of four and 
six employes of the factories and workshops poured 
forth in crowds and those who had not already heard 
that no cars were running, waited patiently for half 
an hour or more, preferring to believe that rather should 


6 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


the heavens fall than the street cars stop running 
in the middle of a bright April day. But at last all 
were obliged to ac- 
cept the situation and 
try their abilities as 
pedestrians. 

Minneapolis is a 
roomy city; its cor- 
porate limits extend- 
ing over many square 
miles of prairie. A 
large proportion of its 
population live on ad- 
ditions which owe 
their existence to the 
combined efforts of 
real estate dealers and 
the one and only 
street car company. 

People like to live on these additions, where the air is 
pure and bracing, rents are low, and the Italian ped- 
dler’s refrain of “bananio,” “bananio,” breaks the mo- 
notonous silence of the avenues, reminding the inhab- 
itants that they are only a mile or two removed 
from the din and bustle of a great western city. It 
wouldn’t require a Darwin to discover that the street 
railway system forms a connecting link between the 
city proper and its suburbs? Only when the link was 
missing was it that the population began to realize how 
much of their material happiness depended upon prompt 
street railway transportation. 

During the afternoon drivers and conductors mingled 
with the groups on the sidewalk, seeming to enjoy the 
situation. A few days absence from the city left me in 
ignorance of the events which led to this strike. But I 
couldn’t help wondering why more than 400 employes 



EVERYBODY WABKS. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 7 

should quit work in so unceremonious a fashion. An 
extended study of the habits and ideas of that portion 
of the human race known as the workingman, has con- 
vinced me that he is anxious to work six days in the 
week, and sometimes seven, in order to support himself, 
and the mere thought of being deprived of work is a 
skeleton in his closet. He doesn't work for the sake of 
exercise, or in order to become a millionaire, but be- 
cause idleness means starvation or the workhouse. The 
workingman knows this by hard experience. Now what 
combination of circumstances could have induced these 
men to leave their cars, thus deliberately choosing idle- 
ness and its attendant evils. 

“I have it,” I said, as a bright idea occurred to me. 
“ Mr. Lowry has a reputation for kindness and generos- 
ity. He has probably shared the profits of his vast 
enterprise with the employes who helped to create the 
wealth, and given them a few days vacation in order to 
enjoy their good fortune. Bather hard on the commu- 
nity, to be sure, but we all know how patient and good 
natnred the dear public always is in trifles of this sort.” 

So sure was I of being right in this theory, that I ap- 
proached a group of conductors and drivers who were 
standing near the curbstone talking earnestly, and 
asked if they were not thankful having so kind and 
considerate an employer. 

They all scowled, and seemed to think I was joking 
at their expense; but one said, “Ain’t you Miss Eva 
Gay?” 

Being answered in the affirmative, he said: “Guess 
you don’t know anything about this strike. I’ll tell 
you how it is. Here’s a copy of the notice we found 
posted in all the barns this morning: 

“Minneapolis, Minn., April 10, ’89. 
“To Employes of the Minneapolis Street Railway Company: 

“ Owing to shrinkage in receipts and increased outlay, we are 
compelled to reduce expenses in all departments. 


8 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES, 


“ From and after April 14 the following will be the scale of wages: 

“ Conductors and drivers on street cars, 15 cents per hour. 

“ Stable men, $9 per week. 

“ Conductors on motor line, 17 cents per hour. 

“ Engineers on motor line, 25 cents per hour. 

THOMAS LOWRY, President.” 

“ It was posted late last night,” said the speaker, “so 
as to make a pleasant surprise for the boys in the 
morning.” 

Before I had time to ask any questions another 
driver pulled a slip of paper from his pocket, saying, 
“ Have you seen the ‘ironclad’ which we have to sign in 
order to have the opportunity of working for fifteen 
cents an hour?” 

I had never heard of an “iron-clad” before, but after 
reading the following agreement, thought the name 
rather a gentle one : 

In consideration of my employment by the Minneapolis Street 
Railway Company, I mil not, while in its employ, join or belong 
to any labor organization. A violation of this agreement will be 
sufficient cause for my discharge. 


Witness. 

...188.. 

“We have a contract which does not expire until May 
13th, 1889,” said another, “the seventh provision of which 
has been broken many times by the company, and the 
action today shows a total disregard of its provisions.” 

I secured a copy of the contract, which read as fol- 
lows: — 

May 13th 1888. 

First — The company pay the street car drivers aDd conductors 
16 cents an hour for the first three months, and 17 cents per hour 
after that. 

Second — That motor conductors receive 17 cents per hour for 
the first three months, and 21 cents per hour after that. 

Third — That the stated price for pull-outs from each stable be 
as follows: Nineteenth Avenue, going north, 25 cents; same, going 
south, 25 cents; Broadway, 25 cents; Monroe, 25 cents; University, 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


9 

25 cents; Minnehaha to Sixth Avenue, 45 cents; Cedar to Third 
Avenue, 45 cents; Eighth Avenue, 25 cents; Fourth Avenue, 25 
•cents; Western, 25 cents. 

Fourth— That conductors and drivers shall be passed over 
their own lines free. 

Fifth— That when an employe is excused for one or more days 
he shall not be obliged to report until the time for which he was 
excused has expired. 

Sixth — That an employe who has worked for the company six 
months or more and wants a week or ten days off, or in case of 
sickness, shall not lose his place or go on the extra list when he 
returns. 

Seventh — That an employe reported for violating any of the 
rules, shall have a fair and impartial hearing. 

Eighth — That the company shall put closets at the end of each 
line, where the city does not object to the same. 

Ninth— To post all special notices or orders on the bulletin 
boards at the stables, so that they be properly signed before being 
recognized by the employes as being in force. 

Tenth — To sell the regulation caps to the employes at cost. 

Eleventh — To erase all black marks against the employes at 
least once each year. 

Twelfth — That conductors be allowed to stand inside the cars 
when approaching the end of the lines when there are no passen- 
gers in the cars, and in cold weather, when it does not interfere 
with the conductor’s duties; the management to decide when it 
does interfere with his duties. 

Thirteenth — To give full pay to all employes who have been 
«uch for three months past. 

Fourteenth — To so arrange the time cards that each employe 
■shall have as near as possible ten and one-half hours work inside 
of thirteen hours. This to apply also to motor conductors. 

Fifteenth — This agreement shall be binding on the company 
and on the employes for one year from date. 

and merely glanced at it, remarking, “ So these were 
the magic strokes which made all the cars disappear, 
and Mr. Lowry doesn’t intend to divide the profits?” 

“I guess not,” said a motor engineer, joining the 
group. “ Just look at this statement, published in the 
morning papers, showing the deplorable financial con- 
dition of the company:” 


10 A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 

$578,874 01 
164,181 09> 

Total earnings $743,055 10» 

Operating expenses of street railroad $472,623 63 

Operating expenses of motor line 151,214 32 

Total operating expenses $623,837 95 

Net above expenditures $119,217 15 

For interest on street railroad bonds $ 72,844 67 

For interest on motor bonds 45,280 17 

Total $118,124 84 

Net profit $ 1,092 31 

There is nothing about this statement which would 
make even a business college amateur think that it re- 
sembled a balance sheet. Since its publication it has 
been regarded as something unique in its way. Some 
people think it a true statement. Others regard it as a 
joke. The reader can take his choice. 

The scenes on the street were interesting, but I has- 
tened over to the company’s headquarters in order to 
learn just how matters stood. By using a little diplo- 
macy and sending up a carte de visile belonging to a 
well known lady philanthropist, and which happened 
to be in my pocket book, I was admitted to Mr. Lowry’s 
sanctum Taking care not to remove my veil, I said: 
“ Good afternoon, Mr. Lowry.” 

“ Good afternoon, Miss ,” he replied, cordially. ' 

“I called to know how this strike happened? Did 
you really publish that reduction of wages? Do you 
require employes to sign that ‘iron-clad’ agreement? 
Did you expect this strike?” 

“Yes, ma’am,” was the laconic reply to my eager 
questions. 

“What makes you take this course?” 


Earnings of the street railroad 
Earnings of the motor line 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


11 


He sighed and answered: “We had to make this cut 
in wages. Our expenses are so heavy that this cut is a 
necessity. The company have to borrow money in the 
east in order to build cable lines, which will cost several 
millions of dollars in the twin cities. You see by that 
statement, published this morning, that we have really 
been losing money, because no account is made in that 
for the expense of building four miles of new track, 
$39,279.60, also for paving, $974.84, and many other 
items In fact, the actual loss of the company last 
year was over $30,000.” 

Here I thought I saw a tear gently steal from the 
gentleman’s left eye, and was about to withdraw out of 
respect for his many and various losses, but ventured 
to say: “Now, you are a good Christian gentleman. 
At least I hear that you are. Don’t you think it is a 
little bit wicked to cut down the wages of those poor 
men so that you can build a new cable line and increase 
your profits. None of those men who work for you 
have been able to save enough out of their earnings so 
they can live in a beautiful house like yours up there 
on Hennepin avenue.” 

“ The men are welcome to go anywhere that they can 
find better wages. I do not blame them in the least 
for trying to better themselves,” he curtly replied. I 
thought that quite a kind and generous sentiment, and 
almost hesitated to remind him that his street railway 
franchise is understood to be worth a little over 
$5,000,000, and history says it was worth but little be- 
fore the growth of the city made it valuable. He didn’t 
care to be reminded of such irrelevant considerations, 
and I departed, to see what information could be 
gathered on the street. 

Already the enterprising expressman and bus driver 
had unearthed several curious looking vehicles, which 


A 


12 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES, 


were readily patronized by those who cared more for 
comfort than appearances. 

A visit to police headquarters showed the city hall 
corridors crowded with men anxions to be appointed as 
special policemen. A large number of grand army men 
headed by ex- 
Sergt. Kirkham 
marched up to 
the street rail- 
way headquar- 
ters and enroll- 
ed themselves as 
special protect- 
ors of the public 
peace. 

“ Do you fear 
any disturbance 
because the em- 
ployes of the 
street rai 1 w a y 
have quit work?” I asked one of the officials. 

“ In time of peace prepare for war,” was his pompous 
reply. “ It is hard to tell what those strikers may do, 
and we will be prepared for them.” 

“ I helped to set the black slave free,” said a G. A. R. 
man, “ and will aid in preserving the public peace at 
any cost — always provided that I get good pay for my 
time.” 

“ Hush, hush, that is not a patriotic sentiment,” said 
a comrade. “ The truth is, partner, I’m not so sure but 
these street car drivers are a sort of industrial slaves, 
but we old soldiers helped to elect our present mayor, 
so he ought to let us have the first chance at any job 
like this, and peace must be preserved.” 

I was puzzled to decide which of the two men were 
the more “patriotic,” but it’s only natural that old sol- 



NICOLLET AVENUE-DHAWN FROM LIFE. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


13 

diers should become a trifle hazy in their ideas when 
they leave the role of guardians of the peace and attempt 
to enter the realm of metaphysics in order to explain 
their motives. 

Odd, isn’t it, that because a large number of men 
stop work, there should be a fear that the peace will 
be disturbed. Those who are counted among the good 
citizens while working, are immediately thought capa- 
ble of any violence when idle. 

Returning to police headquarters, I met a number of 
street railway employes applying for places as special 
police. 

“ Why do you apply for those places?” I asked. 

“We are sure that the striking employes will offer no 
resistance to law, but outsiders may make some mis- 
chievous attempt to injure property, and we are willing 
to do anything in our power to preserve order,” said the 
spokesman. 

I did’nt wait to see how they succeeded, but during 
the course of the strike never heard of any of them 
being appointed. 

On the evening of Thursday, the strikers gathered at 

the Labor Temple, 
and informally dis- 
cussed the situa- 
tion with members 
of labor organiza- 
tions who were 
present. The first 
mass m eeting of the 
local eight hour 
league was an- 
nounced for that 
evening in the Temple and the strikers were invited to 
attend in a body, which they did. After this meeting 
adjourned the hall was cleared and a reliable man from 



14 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


each line stationed in the ante-room, in order that no 
one be admitted who was not an employe. By dint of 
much persuasion I induced them to allow me to pass. 

After choosing a chairman, the contract, which should 
have lasted until May 13, 1889, was read and discussed 
thoroughly. Under that contract both drivers and con- 
ductors were paid sixteen cents per hour and after three 
months, this was raised to seventeen cents per hour. 
The motor conductors were paid seventeen cents an 
hour for the first three months, and twenty-one cents 
afterwards. Engineers received twenty-five cents an 
hour for the first six months and twenty-nine cents 
thereafter. The cut, which was posted April 10, makes 
the wages of conductors and drivers fifteen cents per 
hour; conductors on the motor line seventeen cents, and 
engineers twenty-five cents per hour. This provided 
for no raise in wages after any term of service, and nat- 
urally was felt most keenly by those who had been 
longest in the employ of the company. 

The hall was crowded. Men sat around in their work- 
ing clothes, some still carrying the box and wearing the 
numbered cap just as they had stepped from the car. 
Not all of them belonged to the union of street car em- 
ployes, but it was agreed to leave the management of 
the difficulty to the executive board of the union, assisted 
by one man from each line, who should act in an ad- 
visory capacity. These were readily chosen by acclam- 
mation. They decided to fix headquarters at the 
Labor Temple and remain in constant session during 
the strike. A committee of five were appointed at each 
bam, whose business it was to keep the executive board 
informed in regard to the company’s movements in 
starting the lines, A press committee of three were 
chosen to give the reporters points in regard to the em- 
ployes’ view of the situation. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


15 


A few brief speeches were made before the meeting 
closed. The loud voiced and excitable labor agitator, 
who is usually supposed to manage such meetings, be- 
ing conspicuous by his absence. There was but little 
excitement. The men evidently felt that the cut in 
wages and the iron-clad agreement had forced them to 
take a defensive position, and it mattered but little 
whether they went out together or waited to be dropped 
in twos and threes from the company’s roll book. The 
conditions imposed being so severe that it would be im- 
possible to stay there. 

“Men find it hard to support their families on sixteen 
and seventeen cents an hour,” said one speaker, “and ac- 
cording to the time regulations a man is likely to work 
a couple of hours early in the morning, then wait an 
hour or two and go on again; so that the ten or twelve 
hours work is scattered through a space of about eigh- 
teen hours. The employe is obliged to do with less 
sleep than he should and has to get his meals at irreg- 
ular intervals.” 

Others spoke of the hardships attending the work, 
and while they deplored the necessity of a strike, yet 
saw no other way of calling public attention to their 
grievances, and hoped that the company would yet be 
willing to make some more equitable adjustment of 
affairs. 

“Why didn’t you make some proposition to the com- 
pany before leaving work?” I asked the chairman. “It 
seems to me that you have given Mr. Lowry no oppor- 
tunity to make any explanation or different arrange- 
ments, even if he desired to do so.” 

“The company has of late repeatedly refused to meet 
any committee representing the employes. After such 
an experience we thought it would be useless to send 
a committee before quitting work,” he replied. 


16 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


Later Mr. Lowry, in an interview corroborated this 
statement and expressed a preference for dealing with 
the men individually when they had any grievance. 

The employes say that the individual, not liking the 
way the company managed him, was at liberty always to 
present his time check, draw his pay and set out for 
“fresh fields and pastures new,” just as quick as he 
p] eased. 

However, the assemblage, by a unanimous vote, de- 
clared itself in favor of settling the difficulty by referr- 
ing it to a board of arbitration. The meeting then 
closed with a caution to those not actively engaged in 
committee work to stay quietly at home and attempt no 
interference with the company’s business. 

Friday morning found everything quiet, no cars run- 
ning, and a curious crowd, numbering over a thousand 
men, loitering around the street car company’s head- 
quarters to see what would be done. No trouble had 
occurred during the night and the morning was disturbed 
by a single incident. Charles Reynolds, one of the 
striking engineers was walking through the yard at the 
motor junction. Two special police accused him of 
some mischievous intent. An altercation ensued, in 
which Reynolds received an ugly cut on the head. Sar- 
geant Kirkham interfered and discharged the specials, 
on learning the true state of the case, and quiet was 
soon restored. 

A meeting of employes was held at 10:00 a. m. at the 
Labor Temple, reports received from the barns and 
routine business transacted. 

At 1:00 p. m. Mr. Lowry, Mr. Goodrich and a detail 
of police under Capt. Jacob Hein went to the Fourth 
avenue barn. A new driver and conductor had been 
secured and an open car was taken from the barn. A 
crowd of strikers and their sympathizers gathered about 
the barn and shouted noisily. The car stuck in the 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 17 

door way and the new driver had some trouble in man- 
aging the horses. In about ten minutes a start was 
made. The crowd closed around the car and after it 
had gone a little distance unhitched the horses and 
started the car back to the barn. A few minutes later 
the car, loaded with police, was run down to Fifth street 
without trouble. But a crowd gathered there and 
shouted as if a street car were a rare curiosity. Some- 
body gave the conductor a ten dollar bill and he ordered 
the driver to go back to the barn. This proceeding 
seemed to amuse the people much. 

Another car started at 2:30, followed by a patrol 
wagon filled with officers. After a little delay it ran 
down town, making the round trip without incident, al- 
though the crowd on Washington avenue was becoming 
so dense that the officers had difficulty in forcing a pas- 
sage. The same car started on the second trip, and just 
as it left the barn, Mrs. Mc- 
Curdy, wife of one of the 
drivers, sprang on and began 
to remonstrate with the driv- 
er. ‘‘Won’t you leave this 
car?” she said. “Have you a 
mother, a sister, or wife ? 
Think of them and remember 
that in taking this place you 
are taking bread out of the 
mouths of helpless women 
and children. Your mother 
would be ashamed to see you 
here. I would not take this 
place as you have done for 
$50,000. Leave this car and 
I will give you every dollar that I have, although I am a 
mother and my little child is at home now crying for 
bread. Will you not leave this car?” The driver finally 



MRS. MCCURDY. 


IS 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES'; 


agreed to leave if the conductor would, but to her 
pleadings the conductor only replied: 

“Madam, this is a free country, and I have- got to* 
make a living as well as you. I’ll give you fifty cents', 
to- quit this lecturing. If you don’t stop- you will have 
to get off.” 

“I will pay my fare and ride as long as I choose,” she 
replied. The conductor calmly collected the fare and 
the the little woman stepped off when she saw that her 
entreaties availed nothing. 

She said afterwards that her husband was a college 
graduate. After losing all their savings in a fire 
he had been obliged to work as a car driver, in order to* 
earn enough to live; liis earnings, during the five 
months he had been employed averaging only eleven 
dollars a week. 

This pathetic incident was soon forgotten in the ex- 
citing scenes which followed on Washington avenue. 
This car reached the turntable and started on the re- 
turn trip, passing another car which had started from 
the barn. Car No. 1 had only reached First avenue 
south when it was boarded by the crowd, the horses 
unhitched and the driver and conductor sent toward the 
barn with them. Car No. 2 stopped on the turntable, 
the driver unhitched the horses and started down to 
pull the first car out of the way, and did succeed in 
hauling it a short distance. Meantime a load of wood 
was crossing the street, when some one in the crowd 
pulled the pin, dropping the load on the track and 
blocking the way for the car still on the turntable. 
Every moment the crowd grew larger and more noisy 
in its demonstrations. Finally the drivers and conduc- 
tors were induced to drive the horses back to the barn 
and leave the empty cars standing on Washington ave- 
nue. A large detachment of police vainly endeavored 
to disperse the crowd. The streets remained crowded 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 19 

*intil a late hour in the evening. A patrol wagon filled 
wfith police hauled both cars back to the barn. No at- 
tempt was made to run any more, and the crowds on tht 
streets occasioned no further trouble. 

During the afternoon the executive committee of the 
street car employes published the following proposition 
in regard to arbitration : “ If the company really de- 

sires to relieve the public from the inconvenience 
caused by a stoppage of cars, and will agree to submit 
all the questions involved to arbitration, the men on 
their part will agree to go back at the old scale until 
such time as the arbitrators shall render their decision. 
If it is not the desire of the company to accommodate 
its patrons, and it will agree to submit the matter to a 
board of arbitrators, and make no attempt to run cars 

pending the board’s de- 
cision, we will agree to 
refrain from interfering 
with the company’s pro- 
perty and abide by the 
decision, whatever it may 
be. If the company re- 
fuse these terms, we will 
consider that we are 
fully justified in remain- 
ing out. We realize that 
the public sympathy is 
now on our side, and we 
desire to retain it. We 
have no wish to incom- 
mode our friends, the 

NO AKBITEATION FOR MR. LOWRY. pub j ic> an q are W iHing 

to take any steps consistent with honor and a due regard 
to our position, to start the cars to running on all lines 
in the city. If this proposition is accepted, let expert 
accountants go through the books of the company. If 



A TALE OE THE TWIN CITIES. 


20 

it really is losing money, we will accept the decision of 
the board of arbitration, and abide by the result.” 

Mr, Lowry refused the proposition, saying: “There 
will be no arbitration, none whatever. The notices 
posted mean exactly what they say. In future the Min- 
neapolis railway will run its business to suit itself. No 
union shall be allowed to interfere in any way with our 
business.” 

So the people walked another day, some cheerfully, 
but many with visible reluctance. 

A public meeting held at the Labor Temple in 
the evening, was largely attended, and resolutions of 
sympathy with the strikers presented by several organ- 
izations. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


21 


CHAPTER II. 

WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE? 

While the inhabitants of the Flour City were spend- 
ing Friday afternoon watching for cars that didn’t run, 
St. Paul was in a state of expectation. The same com- 
pany owns the street railway in both cities, and em- 
ployes in the saintly city were confronted by the same 
reduction in wages and the same ironclad as that posted 
in Minneapolis, with this exception, that the employes in 
St. Paul had no contract with the company and no con- 
ductors were employed except on the cable line. Before 
the reduction, drivers were receiving 15 cents an hour 
for the first six months, 16 cents for the second six 
months, and 17 cents thereafter. A strike has been a 
calamity almost unknown in the history of St. Paul. 
When the cut was found posted in the barns, the em- 
ployes rubbed their eyes and began to reflect. Through 
force of habit, perhaps, they took their accustomed 
posts on the front of the bob-tailed cars. A day and 
evening of solid reflection brought every employe to a 
midnight mass meeting held at labor headquarters, No. 
70 East Seventh street. A committee from their Min- 
neapolis brethren attended the meeting, and reported 
the action of the employes in that city. The men in St. 
Paul had great faith in the force of moral suasion. The 
union referred the matter to the K. of L. District execu- 
tive board, who visited Mr. Lowry. He declined to make 
any concessions, so Friday afternoon, April 11th, over 
300 drivers and barnmen quit work. At 2:30 p. m. 
drivers began to leave their cars, and at six o’clock not a 
street car wheel was turning on the 52 miles of track. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


22 

The cable line men accepted the reduction and worked 
right along. 

There had been some floating rumors of an impend- 
ing strike, but the average inhabitant didn’t realize 
what steep hills there are in St. Paul until he tried to 
climb them upon his own responsibility. Some people 
used to climb the hills for amusement, or to save an 
occasional nickle, but always with the consciousness 
that a car was within easy reach. 



A NOT UNUSUAL STREET PROCESSION. 

Now it was different. Everybody tried to look good 
natured and as if they rather liked it. But the record- 
ing angel would have to get a cherub for assistant book- 
keeper if he cared to keep track of all the profanity 
used by taxpayers and good members of the church 
during that first evening of the strike. Swearing 
wouldn’t make the cars run, and after awhile it ceased 
to be used in so reckless a manner. 

The striking employes gathered at labor headquarters 
early in the evening and organized on a plan similar to 
that followed by their brethren in the sister city. The 
men for the most part refused to express any opinion 
in regard to the strike, except that they could not live 
upon fifteen cents an hour, and thought the company 
could afford to pay living wages. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


23 


A visit to headquarters found Col. Barr smiling 
and confident that new men could be found next day to 
fill the places of the strikers. He submitted the fol- 
lowing schedule of wages paid in other cities, and 
thought St. Paul employes ought to be duly thankful 
that the cut hadn’t come before. 


Railway Companies. 

Conductors 
per Hour. 

Drivers 
per Hour. 

Buffalo Street Railway Company . 
Lindell Street Ry. Co., St. Louis . 
Rochester City Railway Company 

Peoples Passenger Co., Phila 

Cincinnati Street Railway 

Grand Rapids Street Railway 

Crescent City Ry. Co., N. Orleans 
Detroit City Railway Co 

15c 

15 and 18 %c 
13-10, 14-7, 16% 
16%c 
16%c 
11c 
11-llc 
15c 

20 and 25c 
17c 

13 and 14c 

13 and 15c 
13-10, 14-7, 16% 
# 16%c 

14-7c 
11c 
11-llc 
14c 

15 and 17c 
15c 

St. Paul — Old Schedule 

St. Paul — New Schedule 



Strange to say, those unregenerate employes shrugged 
their shoulders and laughed, wondering where the gen- 
tleman got those figures, what assurance he had that 
they were correct, and asking if Mr. Lowry belonged to 
the combination of capitalists in the east who had or- 
ganized to reduce wages of employes. It’s surprising 
how small a bump of reverence these working people 
have. They presume to doubt so many things that used 
to be accepted without question. 

Late Friday evening the following notice was posted 
in all of the barns : 

St. Paul City Railway Company, April 12, 1889. 

Special Notice No. 213. 

Any employes who have quit work today, and desire to return, 
can do so by Monday, April 15; but any who do not care to avail 
themselves of this privilege will call for their time and cash in 
their boxes by the above date. 

A. L. Scott, Superintendent. 

So the Twin cities on April 11, 1889, for the first time 
in the history of the street railway company were a 


24 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


whole day without car service, and with only a vague 
idea of what accommodations the future might bring 
forth. The company promised to start all lines in the 
near future, but people were doubtful about men being 
found to manage the cars. The strikers kept their ranks 
intact, and felt confident of ultimate victory. The pa- 
pers devoted a generous portion of their space to the 
situation, and as a rule, dealt impartially with both 
sides. Then, and for many days afterwards, the lack 
of street car service was the all absorbing topic of con- 
versation with every class of citizens, and they had 
plenty of opportunity to talk while counting how many 
paving stones make a mile. The only class of people 
who looked thoroughly happy were the express and bus 
drivers. Neighboring towns were scoured and carriages 
brought forth looking as 
if they might have been 
there to give Noah hints 
on the construction of 
the ark. Every old, lean 
and raw-boned horse 
that could be kept inside 
a harness, was pressed 
into service. The own- 
ers smiled as they raked 
in the festive nickle 
which used to go into 
Mr. Lowry’s treasury. 

Passengers only grum- 
bled because there were 
not enough of these nondescript vehicles to accommo- 
date all. 

The enterprising small boy hitched two shaggy dogs 
to a little cart and carried passengers over the hills at 
ten cents a fare. Both equipage and driver disappeared 
after one day’s service. It was darkly hinted by the 



COMING DOWN IN THE MORNING. 



A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


25 


stnall boy that he had been bought out by the street 
railway company. 


Among the arrivals at the 
Minneapolis Union depot 
on that memorable day 
were a family from New 
England. It is not an un- 
usual thing to see people 
coming from the east to 
raise garden truck, run for 
office or retrieve their for- 



tunes in the thousand and one ways which are popularly 
supposed to be lying around in a western city wait- 
ing for some man of brains to utilize them. But this 
family attracted some attention for reasons which the 
reader may appreciate further on. 

The father, Hezekiah Burr, could trace his lineage — 
not to the Mayflower and Plymouth rock — but at least 
to a respectable degree of kinship with those exclusive 
people. His ancestors had fought for political liberty 
but delighted in religious intolerance and superstition. 
Several generations living among the rocky pastures 
and picturesque woodlands of Maine hadn’t lost any of 
their notions about political freedom, and had imbibed 
several distinct ideas as to what constitutes moral and 
social liberty. 

Hezekiah being born and raised a farmer, had natur- 
ally acquired a habit of philosophical observation and 
reflection. Farming in Maine isn’t a science, it’s a sort 
of dispensation of Providence — at least that’s what the 
natives say. The farmer puts in the seed for a crop, 
then sits on a rail fence, chews a bit of straw and 
watches patiently for the harvest to materialize. If it 
does, then he and the good wife have nearly half the 
year to sit near the big open fire place busying them- 
selves with literature and argument; and if it does not 


26 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


then comes a hunt for existence. Hezekiah had always 
managed to keep himself informed about the social and 
industrial agitation going on in the great world outside. 
Occasionally pamphlets would drift in booming the ad- 
vantages and opportunities of cities situated on the 
broad western prairies. After arriving at the mature 
age of forty-eight our friend grew restless. There were 
great struggles going on in the busy cities. Surely 
those ignorant working people needed the aid of Heze- 
kiah Burr’s mature judgment and inflexible will. The 
western fever grew upon him 
until he one day announced 
to his wife that she and the 
family, consisting of a grown 
son and daughter, could get 
ready to settle in Minneapo- 
lis without delay. The wife 
had never imbibed wisdom 
from the teachings of J ulia 
Ward Howe or Susan B. An- 
thony, so she meekly let her 
household gods be sold at 
auction and prepared to leave 
the rugged hillsides and pine 
forests so dear to her heart. 

“ What you goin’ to Minne- 
apolis for, father?” inquires his only son, Mark, a lank, 



WATCHING FOR THE HARVEST. 


auburn-haired youth, who never was allowed to read 
thrilling detective stories from dime libraries, and con- 
sequently hadn’t that ardent thirst for city life which 
usually characterizes a country boy. 

“Waal, that’s a queer question for a boy like you to 
ask,” replies his sire. “ Havn’t you ever hearn tell that 
it was men from Maine that are the richest and most 
influential citizens of Minneapolis. There’s the Wash- 
burns, and Crosbys, and Morrisons, and Days, and even 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


27 

Winn Bracket, the chief of police, came from our state. 
I’ll jest call round, and have a good neighborly chat 
with some of ’em. They’ll be glad to see a man of pro- 
gress like myself,” quoth Hezekiah, drawing up his lean 
frame to its utmost height, his keen gray eyes growing 
bright with visions of the good fortune sure to befall 
himself and family in the promised land of Minneap- 
olis. “You’ll get a good job in some office, Mark, and 
Mary here can teach school, and mar’m and I will jest 
take comfort and enjoy oursel’s.” 

So the family shortened the tedium of travel with 
bright anticipations. On the last day of the journey 
Hezekiah began to wonder what would become of all 
the Scandinavians who were checked with tickets in 
their hats for the Twin cities. There were three car 
loads on the train, and even the women and children 
expected a “yob.” Conversation with them wasn’t a 
success. It was too one sided to be entirely satisfact- 
ory even to Hezekiah, the oracle of Skowhegan. He 
had to do all the talking and the guileless emigrant 
would invariable say “Yaw.” “What on airth will all 
these emigrants get to do?” asked Hezekiah of the con- 
ductor. 

“Drive street cars if they want to,” answered that 
official briskly. 

“How’s that, they can’t talk any English,” said Heze- 
kiah, thinking perhaps the conductor thought he didn’t 
know anything about the world because he wore blue 
jeans, smoked a corn cob and affected a slouch hat. 

“Oh, the street railway employes are on a strike in 
St. Paul and Minneapolis. There’s hundreds of idle 
men in both cities, but public sentiment is so strongly 
in favor of the strikers that only a few will take their 
places. These foreigners will get three dollars a day 
while the trouble lasts. People will call them ‘scabs,’ 
but they won’t understand it,” replied the conductor. 


28 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


The Burr family were intensely interested and made 
the trainboy happy by purchasing a lot of back number 
papers. A real live strike was more amusing to them 
than a Fourth of July celebration. Hezekiah rapidly 
made himself acquainted with all the details of the 
affair up to April 11. 

“It’ll be all right now, mother, and we won’t see any 
of it,” he said, looking up from his paper. 

“Why?” asked mother, arousing herself reluctantly 
from a pleasant reverie about the numerous offers of 
marriage which her Mary would be sure to receive from 
any wealthy or talented young men who might dwell in 
this wild western country. “Because,” answers Heze- 
kiah. “here’s a lady professor, Miss Maria Sanford, took 
sech an interest in these car drivers that she’s been try- 
ing to get a committee of prominent men to call on that 
street railway president, Mr. Lowry, and get him to ar- 
bitrate. Of course he will when a smart woman takes 
hold of anything she’s sure to manage it.” Probably 
Hezekiah spoke from experience, remembering the 
many times that his Maria had “managed” him. 

But the truth is that a committee of arbitration, 
headed by the Bev. James McGolrick, 
of Minneapolis, laid the matter be- 
fore Mr Lowry. The committee en- 
tered the office with earnestness and 
enthusiasm stamped on every linea- 
ment of their countenances and were 
received with that graceful courtesy 3/y 
and high-bred elegance of manner^^v 
which characterizes Mr. Lowry. In 
a few minutes they emerged looking 
visibly wilted. The street railway, 
company refused to see any neces- 
sity for arbitration and proposed to run its own busi- 
ness in its own way. 





A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


29 


The Burr family spent the day in looking up some 
distant relatives who had a pretty home on one of the 
additions near Hennepin avenue. That evening Heze- 
kiah and son with about 10,000 weary and footsore 
taxpayers gathered on Bridge Square, making the larg- 
est gathering of its kind ever held in the Flour City. 
A stand for speakers had been erected near the city 
fouiitain. Thos. A. Clark acted as chairman and ex- 
plained the necessity for some adjustment of this diffi- 
culty, which was causing a stagnation of business 
throughout the city. Several well known citizens ad- 
dressed the meeting, and were enthusiastically received. 
A glance from the platform showed a sea of faces up- 
turned and eager to catch every word. The darkness 
was relieved a little by the rays of the rising moon, and 
by its light could be seen the Mayor, Chief of Police, 
and members of the City Council, leaning from the 
windows of the City Hall just across the square. 
Doubtless the great crowd awoke tender and grateful 
memories of similar crowds who a few months ago 
carried torches and shouted themselves hoarse in order 
to elect the present “retrenchment and reform” admin- 
istration. It is to be hoped that our city fathers were a 
little absent minded on that occasion, and didn’t hear the 
naughty suggestions made by some speakers. Just to 
think of accusing that august body of being hired to 
protect Thomas Lowry’s interest rather than that of the 
people! And it did grieve Hezekiah to hear the audi- 
ence concur with such an opinion. 

A resolution was adopted asking the legislature to 
authorize the city council to condemn and purchase the 
street railway systemn and annul the exclusive feature 
of the franchise if the cars were not running within a 
specified time. A committee of twenty prominent busi- 
ness men were appointed to present the resolution to the 
governor on the following Monday. 


30 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


On Sunday no cars were run in either city. The 
twin cities basked in the April sunshine as calmly as 
country hamlets. No jingle of car bells disturbed the 
the sabbath meditations of their inhabitants. 

It was a noticeable fact that fewer people than usual 
attended church. The ladies said because they were 
waiting for Easter Sunday and spring bonnets. The 
masculine portion of the community were simply tired. 

The Burr family distributed itself around to different 
churches as inclination suggested. When they com- 
pared notes at the dinner table, no decision could be 
reached as to which side of the question the preachers 
espoused. 

“I’ll tell you, father,” said his daughter Mary with a 
demure expression, “let’s defer our prayers for awhile 
until we see how this strike is likely end; then we won’t 
be wasting our energies and troubling the Lord about 
that side for wffiich, in his wisdom failure might already 
have been decreed.” 

“I hear there’s a goin’ to be a meetin’ of the police 
commission along with the mayor and those men who 
manage the street railway company.” City officials hey 
sech a queer way o’ doin’ business out here,” mused Mr. 
Burr. “Now, marm, don’t you know, thet if we’d a had 
any sech trouble down in our section of the country, the 
officials would hev taken an interest in it right away.” 

“I suppose these people know what they’re about,” 
said his wife, looking up from her gospel hymn book, 
“hadn’t you better go down town and see what’s goin’ 
on?” 

“Jest as you say,” amiably responded Hezekiah. He 
like all sensible men, accepted his wife’s advice readily, 
when it harmonized with his own views. 

On the streets he found a large number of citizens 
who were wondering if Mayor Babb hadn’t gone fishing 
or maybe .taken up a claim in Oklahoma, because neither 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 31 

interview nor official communication had as yet enlight- 
ened an anxious public in regard to his sentiments. 
On his way down town, however, Hezekiah learned that 
the promised meeting had already taken place. Now 
his honor said, in no uncertain tone: “It has come to 

f a pass now where it is no longer a ques- 
ion of whether Mr. Lowry shall run his 
cars or not, but it is now whether the 
city authorities shall run the city or not;” 
and intimated that a full force of police, 
and possibly even the militia would be 
called out in order to protect Mr. Low- 
ry’s property, in case there should be 
any interference when the company 
got ready to run its cars. 

After much travail of spirit and diligent study of the 
penal code, the Mayor and City Attorney evolved the 
following proclamation : 

“ Unfortunately for our city, a strike of the employes of the 
street railways and motor lines is in progress, and it becomes 
necessary to use unusual efforts for the preservation of public 
peace and order. I therefore, as the Mayor of the city of Minne- 
apolis, do hereby proclaim that all citizens shall be protected 
in their rights of citizens and property, and to this end do re- 
quest all good citizens to attend to their regular business and to 
abstain from assembling in crowds upon the streets, or engaging 
in the use of any loud or boisterous talk, calculated to incite dis- 
order, and do especially warn and admonish all persons to refrain 
from acts of violence or hindrance to the operations of the street 
railway companies, or from in any way interfering with persons in 
the pursuit of lawful avocations in connection with such railway 
companies, or in any way destroying or injuring the property of 
said companies or interfering with their lawful use of the same. 
The laws of the State of Minnesota are adequate to the punish- 
ment of any persons guilty of any disturbance and interference in 
the directions indicated, and such laws shall be enforced and pub- 
lic order maintained at any cost. For the information of the pub- 
lic I call attention to section 138 and 476 of the penal code of the 
State of Minnesota. E. C. Babb, Mayor.” 


32 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


The section referred to read thus: 

Section 138. If two or more persons conspire to prevent an- 
other from exercising a lawful trade or calling, or doing any other 
lawful act, by force, threats, intimidation, or by interfering or 
threatening to interfere with tools, implements or property belong- 
ing to or used by another, or with the use or employment thereof, 
is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a 
county jail for not more than one year, or by fine of not more than 
five hundred dollars, or by both. 

Sec. 476. Any person who displaces, removes, injures, or de- 
stroys a rail, sleeper, switch, bridge, viaduct, culvert, embankment 
or structure, or any part thereof attached or pertaining to or con- 
nected with a railway, whether operated by steam or by horses, or 
places any obstruction upon the track of such a railway, or wil- 
fully discharges a loaded firearm, or projects or throws a stone or 
any other missile at a railway train, or at a locomotive, car or ve- 
hicle standing or moving upon a railway, is punishable as follows : 
If thereby the safety of any person is endangered, by imprison- 
ment in the state prison for not more than ten years; in every other 
case, by imprisonment for not more than three years in the state 
prison, or by a fine of not more than two hundred and fifty dollars 
or both. 

After digesting the legal knowledge quoted in the 
above paragraphs, the Hezekiah was well satisfied and 
expected to see cars running on the morrow. 

In St. Paul, the strikers and all other citizens, includ- 
ing the mayor and police force, observed the Sabbath to 
the letter, and all discussions of future movements were 
left in suspense for the day. 

Strange to say, the first three days of the following 
week marked no change in the situation. No cars were 
run in the Flour city. The rails were becoming rusty 
and clogged with dirt. All inquiries at the street rail- 
way headquarters received the stereotyped answer, 
“Cars will be run to-morrow,” and people wondered 
much about the exact date of that “tomorrow,” but were 
obliged to possess their souls in patience until such 
time as the company should be ready to give more exact 
data. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 83 

“Have you men enough to run the cars?” was asked 
every hour in the day. 

“Oh, yes,” would be the superintendent’s reply, “ but 
we are waiting until public excitement is allayed, and 
we have hardly sufficient police protection.” 

Popular sentiment began to regard Mr. Lowry’s first 
action in cutting wages and forcing the ironclad con- 
tract, as the real cause of the difficulty, and protested 
loudly against the discomfort and loss forced upon peo- 
ple who had no immediate interest in the matter. 

“The street railway company has a definite duty to 
the public. The people, through their representatives 
— the city council — gave Mr. Lowry the exclusive street 
railway franchise of this city as a free gift, and he is 
bound to run the cars on schedule time,” said some 
citizens. 

Many went a step farther, saying : “While we don’t 
dispute the right of the street railway company to hire 
men as cheaply as it may, yet, when its efforts in that 
direction result in a suspension of travel, then the 
public have rights which should be considered, In 
short the city council should order the street railway 
company to run its cars immediately or forfeit its fran- 
chise.” 

“There ought to be a special meeting of the council 
to take action on this matter,” 

“Why don’t the street railway company pay living 
wages, then it could run its cars without having to howl 
for police protection?” 

“Are the mayor and chief of police waiting until the 
company can fill all of the striker’s places before taking 
any action?” said others. 

Hezekiah and his son Mark spent nearly all their 
time on the streets, trying to familiarize themselves 
with the peculiar state of affairs. Such remarks as the 
ones just quoted and many of like tenor might often be 


34 A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 

heard. Pears strange that somebody don’t do some- 
thin' to settle this strike,” Hezekiah would say stroking 
his grizzled beard and wondering why he couldn’t think 
of a remedy. “Now, I don’t reely believe in people 
talkin’ so disrespectful like about their city government. 
It don’t seem nateral to me, I always was brought up 
to respect the law, and it kinder goes agin the grain 
when I hear people talking so free an’ easy an’ saying 
the street car company kin do jest as it pleases.” 

“Father, I think — ” began Mark. 

“No, you don’t,” retorted his sire, “boys of your age 
don’t think at all; you jest take other people’s word fer 
every thing.” 

An argument might have ensued only that Miss Mary 
Burr came in just at this moment saying: 

“Father, if you don’t object, I would like to go out 
and solicit aid for these poor people who are in this 
strike. I’ve heard so many say they were willing to aid 
them, and I think aiding those in distress is only a, prac- 
tical application of the Christianity we talk so much 
about.” 

“Wa’al, wa’al, I s’pose I might as well let you go, if 
your mind is sot on it. I guess you’ve common sense 
enough to look out fer yourself, even if you are a stranger 
in a big city,” and farmer Burr couldn’t help letting an 
accent of pride creep into his voice. For where could 
a girl be found like his Mary? “Guess I’ll take a trip 
to St. Paul tomorrer, when that citizens’ committee goes 
to call on the governor,” said Hezekiah when Mary had 
retired. So he did. 

The committee called on Governor Merriam, in accord- 
ance with the resolution adopted at the mass meeting on 
the Saturday evening previous, asking him to intro- 
duce a bill in the legislature* then in session giving the 

*Under the law of this state, the governor is empowered to 
request the introduction of bills in the legislature after the time 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 35 

Minneapolis city council power to revoke the franchise 
and condemn the property of the street railway com- 
pany. After hearing the statement of the committee, 
the governor replied to that he thought it would be a 
breach of legislative etiquette for him to ask the intro- 
duction of a local measure, unless the Hennepin dele- 
gation of the legislature also joined in the request The 
Hennepin members, on being applied to, were so much 
afraid of misrepresenting the dear people who elected 
them, that they wanted the matter first referred to the 
city council for an official expression, before making so 
important a request. So ended that day’s efforts of the 
citizen’s committee. 

The next day petitions were circulated asking the 
Minneapolis city council to pass a resolution recom- 
mending the passage of a bill in the legislature, empow- 
ering the council to revoke the exclusive franchise and 
condemn the property so that the street railway could 
be owned and run by the city. 

“Now, Mark, you jest take one of them petitions and 
don’t come back till you get it filled,” ordered Hezekiah, 
“this is the proper and legal way to do. Jest you let 
’em see that people from Maine ain’t backward in doin’ 
their duty.” 

“All right, pa,” replied his dutiful son. 

“I’d take one myself, only I kinder like to stay around 
and keep track of how this thing is goin’ to end,” ex- 
plained Hezekiah, who belonged to that class of people 
who really imagine that the universe would lose its 
bearings and go astray unless kept in its course by 
their unfailing judgment and sagacity. However, our 
friend received a lesson later which greatly changed his 
estimate of his own importance. 


has expired for the introduction by members of that body. In 
this case there were but ten more legislative days. 


36 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


The city council of St. Paul met on Tuesday evening, 
April 16, and found the following petition awaiting 
action : 

We, the undersigned citizens of St. Paul, urge the city coun- 
cil to hold a meeting at once and take some action to compel the 
street railway company to operate its lines at once, or, since the 
company has an exclusive franchise, to force a forfeiture of the 
same, and let the city control the street railway itself. 

About 10,000 names were attached, and the council 
followed it up with a set of resolutions which surprised 
even itself, when it came to reflect upon the daring ac- 
tion. The first resolution was something after this 
fashion : 

Whereas, The St. Paul city railway company has failed and 
neglected to furnish the general public of said city with its usual 
transportation facilities for several days last past, by failing and 
neglecting to run its horse cars (so called) upon, over and along 
the different routes in said city, upon which it has established 
tracks, without reasonable excuse for such neglect now therefore, 
be it 

Resolved, That the proper city authorities be, and they are 
hereby authorized and directed that, unless said aforesaid city 
railwav company shall, within three days after this date, cause 
their said lines of railway to be fully operated, to forthwith cause 
such proceedings to be instituted and prosecuted to the end 
thereof that the charter, under and by virtue of which said com- 
pany are now transacting business in said city under their said 
name and franchises, shall be declared forfeited, annulled and 
forever void. 

An alderman from the sixth ward then presented the 
following resolution, which also passed: 

Whereas, The St. Paul city railway company is not furnish- 
ing proper and sufficient service on its lines in the Sixth ward, and 

Whereas, The said tracks of the said St. Paul city railway 
company have never been accepted by the company, as provided 
by ordinance; therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the city engineer be and is hereby instructed 
to cause all of said tracks in the Sixth ward to be taken up and 
removed out of the streets in said ward within ten days after the 
passage and approval of this lesolution. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


87 

Probably this action of the council was not wholly 
the result of the citizens’ petition. Only a few hours 
previous the franchise question in St. Paul had been 
brought before the state legislature. Representative 
Willrich, secretary of the Ramsey delegation, introduced 
a bill in the house, repealing chapter 293, special laws of 
1883, which validated the St. Paul ordinance of 1872. 
This ordinance gave the street railway company exclu- 
sive control over the streets of St. Paul. After a sharp 
debate the bill passed the house and its friends hoped to 
see it pass the senate. The council expressed itself thus 
about the bill: 

The common council of the city of St. Paul heartily com- 
mends the action of the house of representatives of this state in 
repealing the special act of the legislature of 1883, which ratifies 
and confirms the ordinance of February 7, 1882, in relation to the 
St. Paul city railway company, and that this council urgently re- 
quests the senators from this county to urge and secure the pas- 
sage of said repealing act by the senate of this state as soon as 
possible. 

So that the council’s action was only a reflection of 
that taken by the legislature. 

A flying trip to St. Paul about this time convinced 
Hezekiah that the strikers were following the plan of 
action advised by conservative people for such emer- 
gencies — that is keeping quiet and letting events take 
their course. Judging that St. Paul could take care of 
itself for a few days he returned to watch over the wel- 
fare of Minneapolis. 


38 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


CHAPTER III 


TROUBLE NEVER COMES SINGLY. 

On Wednesday morning, April 18, street cars began 
to run again. People living on the University, Plym- 
outh and Fourth avenue lines were startled from their 
morning slumbers by hearing the old familiar tinkle of 
car bells. Elaborate preparations had been made for 
this event. A large number of police, under special 
orders, being stationed on the principal streets, and 
Dame Rumor said the militia were ready to aid in pre- 
serving order if necessary. Each car was loaded with 
police and managed by a force of conductors and drivers 
picked up from the idle men about the streets. Only 
two or three cars were run on each of these lines. 

While Mark Burr was busily em- 
ployed getting signers to his peti- 
tion blank, he happened to meet, 
near one of the street car bar us, a 
large, muscular looking man seated 
on an empty nail keg, his costume 
was remarkable for its. simplicity, 
the pantaloons being short enoughs 
to pass for knickerbockers, the 
sleeves of his grimy shirt were 
rolled back, showing brawny arms 
that looked as if they could per- 
form plenty of hard work when they 
wanted to try. Whittling a long 
stick with a huge bowie knife] 
seemed to be the man’s present 1 
occupation. “Want to sign this 
petition sir?” politely enquired Mark, showing his paper. 



THE COMPANY’S AGENT. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 39 

“Naw,” answered the man, shifting a huge quid of 
tobacco from one cheek to the other. “Look here, young 
fellow,” he called out, as Mark moved away, “come back 
here, I want to talk to you.” The aspect of the stran- 
ger was not one to inspire confidence, the heavy lower 
jaw and a squint in one eye gave his countenance an ex- 
pression that made one willing to keep a civil distance 
from him. “Don’t you want a job?” said the stranger. 

“I dunno, what is it?” replied Mark. 

“Wouldn’t you like to be a conductor on a street car 
and get five dollars a day?” 

“Guess not. I don’t think it’s safe,” replied Mark, 
edging away. 

“Better take it,” urged the stranger. “I don’t hire 
many men here. I’m the company’s agent in Chicago, 
but I havn’t had good luck hiriug men for this strike. 
We had about thirty this morning, and by night the 
people will have them all coaxed off or frightened away. 
Now, you look like a young fellow that had some grit. 
Better come, you can stay right here in the barn and 
sleep and eat. We’ve got a lot of fellows in there train- 
ing. Come on.” He shut his knife with a snap and led 
the way to the barn. 

Mark followed partly from curiosity and partly from 
a conviction of his inability to escape the stranger’s so- 
licitions; besides five dollars a day was a great tempta- 
tion to him just then. 

The barn was a large, low building, the rear serving 
as stables for the horses and mules, the front as a store- 
house for cars. Tracks had been laid through the space 
in the center; here cars were brought out and the new 
recruits given all the opportunities they chose for full 
dress rehearsals before making their debut in the pres- 
ence of the large and critical audiences who thronged 
the streets whenever a car appeared. 


40 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


“Hullo, here’s another scab! How goes it pard?” 
said one of a group of seedy looking individuals as 
Mark entered. He had heard that “scabs” were men 
who took the places of strikers, but sdmehow he didn’t 
like to hear the name applied to him, this being his first 
opportunity for a personal acquaintance with specimens 
of that genus. 

“Where did you come from?” said another. “Needn’t 
be bashful about tellin’ us,” he continued, as Mark made 
no answer. “I just got out of the ‘pen’ at Stillwater 
last week. 

“I got pardoned out from the workhouse,” said a 
second. 

“Those three fellows over there are professional 
thieves — wouldn’t you like to get acquainted with all of 
us,” continued his tormentor with a coarse laugh. 

Mark wished himself safely outside 
the place, but concluded to give no 
offense to his associates and make his 
escape as soon as possible. 

Supper was served in a few mo- 
ments and most of the company made 
a hearty meal, the foul atmosphere 
not seeming to affect their appetites. 

“ ’Ain’t very old at this business, are 
you youngster?” said one. “Now, 

I’ve been a ‘scab,’ for fourteen years. 

I just go from place to place, where 
there’s strikes, and take the men’s 
places. Card sharping is my regular 
layout, but strikes break the monot- 
ony, you know,” he continued. 

Mark found four among the crowd who seemed to be 
fairly respectable citizens. Two were country boys like 
himself, who had been induced to come in and now 
wished themselves well out. The third said: “I couldn’t 



A ‘scab’ fob years. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 41 

find a job, and come here to get a square meal, but I 
won’t drive no car and I hate to eat and sleep in a barn 
along with the horses.” The fourth one said he had a 
sick wife and several children to take care of, so he hired 
with the company; “but I hear that the strikers are wil- 
ling to help anybody that’s destitute like me,” he said. 
“If I could get out of here I’d go down to the Labor 
Temple and ask ’em.” 

The doors and windows were all fastened and guarded, 
so they were prisoners. After dark Mark succeeded in 
prying open a window, and the five silently stole away. 
The company were minus that many ‘scabs’ in the 
morning. 

“Well, Mark, where on earth have you been?” ex- 
claimed his mother as he entered the house. “Between 
you and Mary, I’m frightened out of my wits.” Mark 
told his mother of his adventures during the afternoon 
and evening, and then wanted to know where Mary was. 

“ I don’t know what to do with that girl, she’s got so 
notional lately,” sighed Mrs. Burr. “She used to be so 
cheerful and happy, goin’ about singin’ just like a bird. 
But since John Dean left Maine nigh two years ago and 
stopped writin’ any letters after awhile, why Mary acts 
like a different girl. She scarcely ever sings and talks 
about devoting her life to duty and says you can’t trust 
human nature — oh, dear, I don’t know what to do about 
her,” said her mother, wiping away the tear that would 
come. 

“Oh, I guess Mary won’t die of a broken heart; there’s 
lots just as good fellows as John, so don’t worry about 
that,” said Mark, with a boys impatient contempt of 
anything approaching s e timent. “Now, ma, if you’ll 
just tell me where Mary is, I’ll go fetch her home.” 

“Wa’al, she went down to the Labor Temple helping 
the strikers, some way. You’ll have to get her to tell 
you how she happened to stay there so late. She don,t 


42 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


appear to have time for even mother, now; — wonder 
where Hezekiah is?” said Mrs. Burr fretfully. She 
heartily wished the whole family back on the quiet 
farm in Maine. She couldn’t share their enthusiasm 
about the present excitement, and felt sure that some 
of them would get into serious trouble. 

Mary Burr was a tall, slender girl, not exactly pretty, 
but a fair complexion, golden brown hair, hazel eyes 
and irregular but well moulded features, gave the de- 
tails of a countenance too expressive to escape the 
notice of even a careless observer. It was true, as her 
mother had said, that she let grief for her absent lover 
cloud her naturally sunny face. When his letters ceased 
her loving heart framed every excuse for his silence 
that affection could devise. But for the last few months 
the conviction forced itself upon her that he had for- 
gotten or tired of his plighted faith. The calm, self- 
controlled demeanor inherited from her Puritan ances- 
tors forbade any outward expression of wounded love 
and humbled pride. For that reason the storm raged 
all the more fiercely in the warm, impulsive nature be- 
neath the calm surface. 

Nature will have her way and those who seek to crush 
that instinctive longing for human sympathy in trouble, 
suffer the consequence. Sorrow shut within the heart 
corrodes and warps the warmer sentiments and feelings. 
So Mary kept her secret, then wondered why she felt old 
and weary of life and so ready to mistrust everybody. 

She was glad to come west, although scarcely ac- 
knowledging to herself the hope that John Dean might 
be found and his silence explained. But that hope died 
as she watched the surging throngs on the streets, and 
realized how easily both might live in the same city and 
never meet. 

A visit to the homes of some of the strikers had 
aroused her sympathy in their behalf. After obtaining 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 43 

permission from her parents she collected nearly two 
hundred dollars and went to the Labor Temple to turn 
it over to the executive board. She found them over- 
crowded with work and in need of a secretary. At the 
earnest solicitation of the chairman she accepted the 
position for a few days, and was busily engaged in ar - 
ranging the scattered records when her brother called 
to bring her home. 

“Oh, pa, you ought to come down to the depot and 
see the cowboys,” yelled Mark, rushing into the yard in 
great excitement next day. “Come along, we never saw 
any real, live cowboys. They’re going to be down at 
the Minnesota transfer this afternoon. Won’t you come? 
Never mind dinner,” urged the youth. 

“No, I guess not.” replied Hezekiah. “You kin go, 
if you want to, only don’t git locked in agin. I’ll stay 
round home and git some more names to this petition.” 

Mark found a large crowd of curious citizens, who 
like himself, were anxious to see the “determined” men 
who had been brought from Kansas City to take strik- 
ers places. The cowboys wore the regulation slouch 
hat, and each had a brace of bran new revolvers 
thrust through his belt. They certainly looked vicious, 
and irate citizens promised them plenty of opportunity 
to display their boasted determination. A committee 
from the strikers visited them. “Why do you fellows 
come here?” asked the spokesman. 

“Because there’s money in it,” answered one of the 
alleged cowboys.” We get three dollars a day and our 
railroad fare each way. The street car boys are all right, 
but we are going to stay two or three weeks just for the 
big pay,” he asserted. 

It was found later that the cowboys were in reality a 
picked band from the vagabond population of Omaha 
and Kansas City. They donned the regulation outfit 
after arriving. A similar band came to St. Paul a 


44 A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 

day or two later. The people protested strongly against 
the introduction of this lawless element into the com- 
munity where excitement already ran high, and it was 
thought that, should a riot ensue, the company would 
be held responsible for having furnished the exciting 
cause. 

During the afternoon Mark’s pocket-book, by some 
peculiar combination of circumstances, was transferred 
from his pocket to the 
hip pocket of a cowboy. 

Remonstrance was use- 
less and Mark was com- 
pelled to walk home 
without it, thoroughly 
disgusted with at least 
one phase of the strike. 

On Friday evening, 

April 19, the Minneapo- 
lis city council met for 
the first time since the inauguration of the strike. It 
did not emulate the example of the St. Paul council on 
the preceding Tuesday. Hezekiah stood in the council 
room, his usually grim features relaxing into a hopeful 
smile, for had he not just helped to bring up a huge roll 
of petitions, containing over 30,000 signatures. His arm 
ached but he felt sure that no reasonable city council 
could refuse to act upon so emphatic a request as that. 

At the proper time some one explained that the peti- 
tion asked the city council to recommend *that the legis- 
lature empower it to revoke the franchise, also to con- 
demn and purchase the property of the street railway 
company. The petition was gently and tenderly allowed 
to fall into the waste basket without any action being 
taken upon it. A few days afterward a boiler exploded 
in the basement of the City Hall. It was rumored that 
a subsequent investigation revealed the fact that the fire 



A DETERMINED LOWRY COWBOY. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 45 

under the boiler had been made from this roll of peti- 
tions; the sudden freeing of the enthusiasm and energy 
contained in them being the cause of the explosion. 
An example of misdirected energy as it were. 

After a stormy debate the council did pass a resolu- 
tion providing for the forfeiture of the franchise if the 
railway company failed to run its cars by noon of Mon- 
day, April 22. Hezekiah staid in a remote corner of 
the room throughout the session. Coming out 
he could not help remarking: “Wa’al, wa’al, I never 
thought that aldermen got mad an’ called each other 
names like common people, but sence I heard them de- 
bate about this ’ere strike an’ that res’lution, I dunno 
hardly what to say. An’ ter think that they never took 
any notice of thet petition. Why I thought that would 
jest fetch them. Guess I’ll tell Mark to look fur some 
kind of a job thet pays. He’s wasted a lot of time gettin’ 
signers to thet petition. I did’nt grudge his time, because 
thet sort sort o’ work is what I call practical patriotism. 
Guess patriotism is at a discount here,” mused Heze- 
iah as he ambled home in the moonlight. 

Meeting a man whom he remembered having noticed 
in the council chamber, Hezekiah asked, “Wa’al, now, 
neighbor what do you think o’ thet resolution thet they 
just passed?” 

“ I don’t believe the mayor will sign it. If he vetoes it 
of course it will take a two-thirds vote of the council to 
pass it and that will never be gained,” said the stranger 
gruffly. 

Hezekiah wasn’t so hopeful as he had been a few days 
ago, but still tried to look on the bright side of the case. 

However, the president of the council delayed his 
signature for several days. The mayor returned the 
resolution to the council without his signature, where it 
was again voted on but failed of the two-thirds vote 
necessary to pass it. So that the citizens saw plainly 


46 A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 

that neither the mayor nor the council were at all in- 
clined to interfere with the plans of the street railway 
company. 

When Mary Burr began her duties as secretary of the 
executive board of the strikers, she felt thoroughly be- 
wildered, as indeed well she might. One could hardly 
imagine a more curious occupation for an inexperienced 
country girl. But if she didn’t know much about the 
world as it is, she, at least, had her full share of that 
fund of shrewdness and common sense which is sup- 
posed to be a common inheritance of all yankees. Her 
sympathies were fully aroused for the strikers and this 
frame of mind enabled her to endure discomforts with 
an amount of equanimity which surprised herself. 

A striker’s executive board is one of the curious but 
apparently necessary phases of modern civilization. It 
wouldn’t have been needed in ancient times, for I sup- 
pose if Nero had waked up some April morning and 
found several hundreds of his minions walking about 
the streets or gathered at the Coliseum to discuss their 
grievances he would have nipped the affair in the bud 
by ordering them to be bound in tarred cloth and used 
as torches to light up one of his public celebrations that 
same evening. They wouldn’t have had the opportunity 
to select an executive board. 

Probably at some remote date in the future, there 
will be no need for such an organization, for there is a 
hope that the coming processes of evolution will elimi- 
nate from society the causes which now lead to strikes 
and organizations necessary to handle them effectually. 
But for the present one must deal with society as it is. 
The executive board of the strikers didn’t trouble itself 
with anything but the practical side of the difficulty. 
It staid in session all day and evening in a little trian- 
gular shaped room on the third floor of the Labor Tem- 
ple. Mary found plenty of work for her willing hands. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 47 

The first day was over before she realized it. There 
were reports from committees stationed at each barn. 
Then an exchange of telegrams with the St. Paul board. 
By that time the little room was crowded with people 
who had all sorts of requests to make. A regular 
feature of the work was managing reformed “scabs.” 
A couple of sturdy drivers came, bringing with them 
several dilapidated specimens of humanity. “Here’s a 
lot of ‘scabs’ we coaxed off the cars. They haven’t got 
anything to eat or any place to stay. What’ll we do 
with them?” they inquired. That was a perplexing 
question for the committee, but they 
finally decided to start a boarding 
house in the dining room of the Tem- 
ple and utilize the accommodations 
of a cheap lodging house for sleeping 
apartments. The strikers at no time 
resorted to violence, but used all sorts 
of persuasion to induce others not to 
take their places. The “scabs” who 
excused themselves on the ground of 
absolute destitution were cared for in 
this way. Many immediately devel- 
oped aristocratic tastes totally at vari- 
ance with their outward appearance, 
and grumbled much at the plain food 
and pine tables in the dining room. 
an aristocratic scab. strikers concluded that men 

who could eat and sleep in Thomas Lowry’s barns ought 
to be glad to accept common every day fare under a civ- 
ilized root*. 

Money and resolutions of sympathy came pouring in 
from all sides. Mary was kept busy answering them 
and keeping a record of the circumstances. Reports 
and rumors from all quarters of the city kept the com- 
mittee in a constant buzz of suppressed excitement. 




48 A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 

Then a bus line was being organized on the different 
car routes. There was talk of establishing a permanent 
line of herdics, and preparations to be made for a pub- 
lic meeting in the evening. So three days passed, the 
monotony of constant excitement only broken by an 
occasional trip to St. Paul, when cars began to run 
on Friday, April 18, escorted by an imposing array of 
police and railway officials. Mary shared the amuse- 
ment of the citizens in seeing the empty cars drawn 
backward and forward like so many toys. The new 
drivers and conductors were not troubled with passen- 
gers. People seeming to prefer to patronize the busses 
run by the strikers. Mass meetings in different por- 
tions of the saintly city, held nightly, gave the citizens 
a chance to air their enthusiasm about the matter. 

“Strange, isn’t it mother,” remarked Mary on her re- 
turn from St. Paul one evening, “everything seems so 
quiet in St. Paul. None of the strikers have gone back 
and only a few empty cars are running, but you don’t 
see such crowds on the street nor hear so much talking 
as over here. Wonder why it is?” she said picking some 
crumbs of cake from the table to feed her pet canary, a 
gift from one of the strikers. 

“That ain’t troublin’ my sperit at all, Mary,” answered 
her mother, adjusting her spectacles at the proper angle 
so as to make herself look severe. “It’s troublin’ me to 
know how we’re goin’ to get a livin’ here in this strange 
place. There’s your father and Mark jest walkin’ about 
all day and goin’ to meetin’s in the evenin’, and you jest 
as bad spendin’ all your time with that executive board, 
as you call it. I don’t know what’ll become of us ?” 
Mrs. Burr replied dismally. 

“Some people trust in the Lord,” answered Mary, not 
because of any great amount of faith on her own behalf, 
but hoping to close the discussion for her mind was filled 
with thoughts of far greater interest to her. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


49 

“‘Mary, I’m down right surprised to hear you talk in 
Chat heathenish tone after the way you’ve been brought 
up,” ejaculated her mother. “I believe in helpin’ our 
selves and not dependin’ on friends even if they do 
happen to be kind hearted and ask us to make ourselves 
right to home, I’m goin’ to take in plain sewin’ an’ do 
my best, even if the rest of the family hev gone crazy 
about this strike.” 

“Yes’m, I guess that would be a good idea,” answered 
Mary, with that air of abstraction which made her 
mother worry about her. 

“An’ more than that, I’m not goin’ to neglect my plain 
Christian duty, like I have been doin’ lately. Next Sun- 
day is Easter, an’ I’m goin’ with a pious lady to visit 
the prisoners at the lockup.” 

“Why, what good will that do ?” asked Mary, lifting 
her eyebrows, 

“Oh, we’ll read the Bible to them, and talk about their 
depravity, and tell them to love God,” answered her 
mother earnestly. 

Mary had an honest doubt as to the value of such 
Christian ministrations but forbore to argue the point. 

Mrs. Burr retired sadly. She had hoped Mary would 
offer to stay at home and help with the sewing, and 
wondered how she could bear to waste her time working 
for the strikers. 

But Mary liked the excitement, it helped her to for- 
get her own troubles. The men about her were rough 
in appearance but kindly in manner, and she soon felt 
as much at home as she had formerly among her school 
children. Then there were many amusing incidents to 
vary the monotony. An assistance fund had been estab- 
lished for those among the strikers needing help. Every 
time she stepped outside the door she was waylaid with 
all sorts of petitions. 


50 A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 

‘Tm a stranger and don’t want to take any striker’s 
place. Will you ask the board to buy me a ticket to 
Denver?” asked a big fellow who looked as if a tramp 
across the country would be good exercise for him. 

“I used to work for the company; got discharged about 
a year ago. Won’t you take in my request for ten dol- 
lars?” said a soft voiced individual whom Mary dimly 
remembered having seen manipulating a hand organ on 
the street corner. 

The man with Turkish rugs, eight day clocks and 
hanging lamps offered her a liberal commission if she 
would induce the executive board to “furnish their office 
in a nice style fit for a pretty young lady to stay in.” 
Mary declined to use her influence, saying that she was 
accustomed to bare floors and pine tables. 

“Miss Burr, wouldn’t you like a nice situation after 
you get through here ?” asked a well dressed and rather 
intelligent looking young man who had been lounging 
about in the halls of the Temple for several days. It 
was just the question which was perplexing Mary more 
than she cared to own and she replied: “Yes, I would 
like to get a place. Our folks are strangers and poor 
besides, but I never did anything except teach a coun- 
try school or help mother with the housework at home. 
Perhaps I couldn’t fill the place of which you are think- 
ing.” 

“Oh, yes you could,” he replied, “I can get you a place 
as ‘spotter’ for the company. They have several young 
ladies working for them. You’ll get fifty dollars a 
month and not have to spoil your pretty hands with hard 
work,” he concluded with a glance of open admiration. 

Mary wanted to run away, but womanly curiosity bade 
her ask a few questions: “I, — I don’t understand you,” 
she faltered. “What is a ‘spotter’ ?” 

“I’m one,” replied the young man. “Now, I hope 
you won’t say anything about it, but I’m hired by the 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 51 

company to stay around here and find out what the 
strikers are doing, how they feel about the situation* 
and report all I hear.” 

“I call that being a spy and I won’t talk to you an- 
other minute. I always thought you were one of the 
strikers until today,” said Mary, her hazel eyes growing 
dark with indignation. 

“No, wait just a moment, let me explain,” said her 
companion, at the same time placing himself in the 
doorway to prevent her leaving. “I see that you know 
when to keep silent and don’t talk about the strikers 
affairs. Now, when the cars get to running as usual you 
might as well be a ‘spotter’ as anybody else. Some one 
is sure to take the place. Several nice young ladies 
were working for the company last year.” 

“What is their work and what’s the need of them ?” 
asked Mary, still bewildered. 

“Well, I suppose the company starts out with the no- 
tion that all the employes will be dishonest, if they get 
a chance,” he said. “At least that’s the principle upon 
which the ‘spotters’ work. We ride about on the differ- 
ent lines, report the register and whether the drivers or 
conductors register and collect all fares; also their gen- 
eral deportment. Sometimes work is dull, there isn’t 
much to report, so we ‘spotters’ have to manufacture a 
complaint, in order to keep our places.” 

“What happens then?” asked Mary. 

“The employe gets discharged; he grumbles, but it 
don’t do any good; some one takes his place, and so it 
goes. Now hadn’t you better try it?” he continued. 
“Nobody need know what your business is and you won’t 
mind it after a while.” 

Mary declined. 

“Well, I’ll just make a note about you, maybe you’ll 
change your mind,” he said, pulling several envelopes 


52 ' A TALE OE THE TWIN CITIES'. 

from his pocket. After writing a few words on the baek: 
of one he replaced the packet and walked off. 

Mary stood for a few moments reflecting upon what- 
she had just heard and wondering if it were possible 
that girls could be found to act as spies upon men al- 
ready laboring under the disadvantages of long hours 
and insufficient wages. Suddenly, she remembered what 
the man had said about his own occupation at the Tem- 
ple, and started to warn the members of the board 
when her attention was attracted by a folded sheet of 
paper lying in the door way. Mechanically picking it 
up she saw that it contained some sort of memoranda. 
Suddenly the lines seem to grow confused and blurred. 
Where had she seen that writing before? The sight of 
the familiar handwriting brought another scene before 
her eyes. 

The bare walls of the Labor Temple seemed to fade 
away. In their stead arose a vision of the old brown 
farm house nestling among the trees, the yard in 
front with its prim flower beds, the worn wooden walk 
leading down to the front gate, a view of green hillsides 
and the mountains in the distance, with their dim pur- 
ple shadows. The Mary of two years ago standing un- 
der the big apple tree with her accepted lover, the dainty 
pink and white petals of the blossoms forming a car- 
pet about their feet. She fastens a few sprays on his 
coat because, maybe there won’t be any apple blossoms 
like these out west. His warm kisses are on her lips 
and she hears the hopeful assurance that: “It won’t 
take long to make a home out west, and after two 
years at most I’ll come back, we’ll have all our friends 
at the wedding in the little church over there. Then 
we’ll go to a pretty little cottage on some western prai- 
rie.” The bitter pain of parting seems hard to bear, 
but she forces back the tears and tries to smile at the 
hopeful vision of the future — a sound of approaching 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


53 


footsteps brought her back with a start, to the realities 
about her. “I thought I had buried that memory so 
deep that it couldn’t come to the surface. How foolish 
to think about that time — it seems ages ago,” she mur- 
mured to herself, “he forgot after all his promises, and 
I don’t care if this is his writing, or if he should come 
up here, I wouldn’t speak to him,” she sternly concluded 
putting the paper carefully away just as a member of 
the board appeared in search of her. 

Mary had plenty of the most practical kind of work 
to distract her thoughts, but her mind would occupy it- 
' self wondering from whence that bit of paper came, and 
if John Dean might come to look for it. She didn’t re- 
port the ‘spotter’ just then but waited until noon to ask 
if he lost the paper. 

“Yes, miss,” he replied, “but I don’t know whose it is. 
I picked it up in the hallway. You better keep it; 
maybe some one will come looking for it.” 

She hadn’t any notion of giving it up. With a 
woman’s usual consistency she argued with herself that 
John Dean was less than nothing to her, but she would 
just like to see if he looked the same as he used. to. 

That afternoon a pleasant 
incident varied the usual 
round of excitement. A 
lady came from Dakota to 
talk with the striking em- 
ployes. Mrs. Marietta M. 
Bones, president of the 
woman’s national suffrage 
association in Dakota, hear- 
mg of the strike and atten- 
v Ndant circumstances, had 
come to Minneapolis to 
mbs. maeietta m. bones. tender her sympathy and 

aid to those whom she considered unjustly oppressed. 



54 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


A large crowd gathered in one of the halls to listen 
to an eloquent address by this lady. She had per- 
suaded several “scabs” to leave the cars and interested 
a number of business men in the cause of the strikers. 
She gave a scathing review of the action of the mayor 
and police force during the strike, and concluded by 
complimenting the quiet and gentlemanly conduct of 
the strikers, urging of them to stand firm until the iron- 
clad agreement be removed and wages restored to the 
former scale. The earnestness and enthusiasm of the 
speaker could hardly fail to be contagious. The em- 
ployes wished her to remain and address a mass meeting' 
in the evening. She was unable to stay and departed 
that afternoon, followed by the good wishes of her audi- 
tors. Mary, after a short consultation with Mrs. Bones, 
was almost willing to embrace the woman’s rights cause 
for life; but concluded to reserve her final decision until 
the strike was settled. 

The Saturday evening preceding Easter Sunday 
brought to a close one of the most exciting weeks in the 
history of the Twin cities. In neither city had there 
been any change in the position of the strikers. In fact 
they had become a minor consideration. It seemed, 
rather, that the whole population was on a strike. 

In the saintly city several cars were run each day. 
A large number of drivers were imported from other 
places. The citizens walked or patronized the bus line 
operated by the strikers. The new drivers seemed to 
tire of their work and desertions were frequent. There 
were few disturbances, and the large police force had 
but little active work to do. 

In Minneapolis a few cars had been running at irreg- 
ular intervals on some lines, guarded and occasionally 
aided by police. Minor disturbances took place every 
day. The new drivers and conductors, being persuaded 
to leave about as fast as the company hired them, those 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 55 

taking out the cars each day were unable to handle them 
skillfully. If a car ran off the track or a horse dropped 
dead from careless driving, the incident brought hun- 
dreds of people about in a few moments. At first 
the crowd would content themselves with calling “scab” 
and ridiculing the new men. The obstruction of the 
first car soon blocked several others. The stopping of 
each car added to the excitement of the crowd. Missiles 
began to fly. Just about that time the patrol wagon 
would swoop down on them with an extra load of police, 
make fifteen or twenty arrests, and disperse the crowd 
for a time. Those arrested received the heaviest penalty 
that the municipal laws would allow. Then, too, the 
new drivers were often perplexed to find a turntable 
missing, switches misplaced or no track upon which to 
drive at all. These annoyances added to those caused 
by inexperience and popular disapproval made the life 
of a “scab” anything but a bed of roses. A member of 
the city council estimates that there were not less than 
10,000 idle men in the city at that time, some of whom 
had been unable to obtain work for months. Yet out of 
this number not twenty could be hired at any price 
to take the places of the strikers. Besides the cowboys 
several crews of men had been brought, at high wages, 
from Kansas City and other western points; still 
less than one-third of the cars were run. The company 
still protested that it lacked police protection. The 
mayor and chief of police cheerfully coincided with 
that view. The crowds would gather every day; they 
“moved on” in obedience to the order of the patrolmen, 
but persisted in keeping the cars in sight. 

“Now, Mark, you jest keep out of those crowds about 
the cars,” Hezekiah said warningly Saturday morning, 
“I can’t say as I blame the people to be mad about the 
way this strike is run. But mind you keep away from 
the crowds my boy. There’s a lot of people arrested 


56 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


every time a crowd gathers around a car, and jedgin’ 
from the way they’re tried in the municipal court, it 
don’t make much difference whether they were doin’ 
anythin’ or not — the workhouse or a big fine is what 
they get. Now, I ain’t got any money to pay fines for 
you, an’ you better keep away,” was Hezekiah’s sage 
advice. 

Seeing that about every third man whom he met wore 
a ‘special’ star, and hearing that the company still 
needed protection, Hezekiah concluded to apply for a 
place. “I don’t kinder like to do it, he explained to his 
wife. “It looks like goin’ back on my principles, but as 
you say, we are gettin’ powerful hard up, an’ I guess I 
could do my duty without offendin’ anybody, and maybe 
its better to have good law abidin’ men like me for sech 
places than some of those like I see every day, that 
haven’t the first idea of what doin’ their duty means. 
Some of ’em jest provoke a quarrel an’ then arrest a 
man because he says his soul’s his own. I certainly 
would never do anythin’ like that.” 

“I wish you would get a place,” replied Mrs. Burr, “1 
don’t jest like the idea of doin’ it, an’ you wouldn’t need 
to if Mary would come home an’ help with the sewin’. 
But after all, I don’t insist on her cornin’. She’s beginnin’ 
to look like her old self lately. Maybe the change is 
makin’ her forget to worry so much; an’ then I was up 
in North Minneapolis yesterday to deliver some work 
an’ the lady I worked fur took me to a meetin’of women 
who are in sympathy with the strikers. It was livelier 
than any sewin’ circle or revival I ever attended. It 
jest made me think of the stories about the way the 
women helped our forefathers in the revolutionary times. 
I believe I’d like to do somethin’ to help them myself 
if I had time,” she concluded, folding up her work and 
putting on her glasses to read the evening paper. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


57 

Hezekiab was refused an appointment as special pa- 
trolman on the ground of his short residence in the 
city. 

“Thet’s true,” he said, “I haven’t lived here long 
enough to pay any taxes, but if I were a taxpayer it 
would make me tearin’ mad to think thet the people 
had to pay these special police for protectin’ the inter- 
ests of the street railway — ” at this juncture our friend 
found himself resting on the pavement outside police 
headquarters, and wasn’t certain just how he came there. 

“Mother, let’s pack up our clothes an’ go back to 
Maine jest as quick as we kin get money enough to buy 
our tickets. I’m gettin’ totally disgusted with this ’ere 
country,” said farmer Burr, on returning from his fruit- 
less search for a place as special guardian of the peace. 

Mrs. Burr was willing and anxious to exchange the 
worry and bustle of a western city for the quiet little 
home among the hills of Maine, where the greater por- 
tion of her life had been spent. 

Mark heard his parents talking about going back to 
Maine and like a wise youth said nothing but mentally 
resolved to stay and try his fortune. Building air cas- 
tles being one of his favorite occupations, he amused 
himself constructing one of noble proportions, repre- 
senting his future prosperity, only to let it vanish like 
a flash as his mother reminded him that it was a half 
hour past the time when he usually called at the Temple 
to bring Mary home. 

“Girls are a regular nuisance, sisters especially,” he 
grumbled, hurrying along the road. “I’d like to know 
why Mary can’t get some other fellow to bring her home 
and not make me come after her every night, when I’m 
so tired. Hello! if there ain’t Mary now, and some man 
walkin’ with her,” he exclaimed, as he turned a corner 
and distinctly saw the two figures approaching; “an’ 
he’s got hold of her arm an’ they’re smilin’ an’ talkin’ 


58 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


jest as tho’ they always knew each other, — I thought 
she’d forget John Dean if mother would only let her 
alone and not be talkin T about him all the time. Won- 
der who ’tis, though ?” and Mark dodged into a doorway 
right under an electric light, to try if he couldn’t see 
who it was and have something to tease her about all 
next day. 

They passed so close to him that Mary must have seen 
him only that her whole attention was taken up with 
more interesting matters. After a moment of speech- 
less astonishment Mark stepped out and rubbed his eyes, 
doubting if he were awake. “That’s John Dean with 
Mary, — I’d think I saw a ghost only I heard his 
voice — that’s him sure and Mary looked if she was 
awful glad to see him. I didn’t think she’d ever speak 
to him again. Girls are a queer lot. I’ll never believe 
Mary again. I thought she meant it when she said the 
other day, after I asked her about him, ‘Ml Dean is 
nothing to me; I have forgotten him.’ Don’t look much 
like it now,” said Mark, noting the loving attitude of the 
figures in the distance. “Guess I’ll take a short cut 
home an’ wake up ma; no, I won’t either. Like as not 
Mary would say I was interferin’ with her concerns. 
Wonder if other fellers have sech a queer sister as mine?” 
he mused sauntering slowly homeward; “but, then Dean 
looked as if he thought she was an angel. Maybe he 
knows better’n I do,” and Mark gave up trying to under- 
stand a woman’s ways, as many an older and brighter 
man than he has done before. He walked slowly home, 
determined to learn the particulars before going to bed, 
but by actual calculation, had to sit on the back porch 
and watch the moon rise for nearly two hours while the 
lately reconciled lovers said good night. 

“Wasn’t you afraid to come home alone, Mary?” he 
inquired, as she came up the steps. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 59 

*‘I — no — yes, that is I thought you forgot. I didn’t 
mind it at all,” she laughingly said, hurrying past 
him. But Mark hadn’t been patient for two hours to 
be put off in this fashion. 

“That door is locked, Miss Mary,” he remarked as she 
rattled the knob, “the key is in my pocket. Hadn’t you 
better ask me for it instead of making a noise fit to 
wake every body in the house.” 

“Do unlock the door Mark, I’m tired. I want to go 
into the house,” she said impatiently. 

“I’m tired too,” retorted Mark, seating himself on the 
top step of the porch, and shying a stone at a cat walking 
across the ridge pole of the shed, “but I want to talk 
with you awhile Mary — never get a chance to say any- 
thing to you lately — makes me lonesome,” quoth her 
brother in a pathetic tone. 

“Wh*' J - a tease boys are,” exclaimed Mary, “won’t you 
give me that key; I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” 

“Want to talk now,” replied her amiable brother. 

4 "What makes you look so happy. Your cheeks are red 
an’ your eyes shinin’ an’ your bangs are all rumpled, 
you—” 

“Oh, nonsense Mark, do mind your own affairs.” 

“That’s what ’m doin.’ Who was that come home 
with you? Looks like some one I’ve seen before.” 

“So it was. That was my old friend John Dean.” 

“Oh, the feller you had forgotten. Guess I’ll go tell 
ma. Maybe she’ll feel interested. ’Spose you don’t 
need a brother any more,” said Mark, moving towards 
the door. 

Mary protested that she would explain to her mother 
in her own way and implored Mark to postpone his in- 
quiries for a while and let her go into the house. 

“Tell me where you met John an’ how you happened 
to remember him so quick, then I’ll unlock the door,” 
said Mark, fishing the key from the depths of his pocket. 


60 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


“Well, you know, the people are thinking of starting 
a line of herdics, and they held a mass meeting this 
evening at the Labor Temple to discuss plans for it. I 
went in to hear the speeches and just think of it, John 
was one of the speakers — ” 

“An’ you rushed up an’ embraced him saying, ‘My 
long lost lover,’ an’ the audience all applauded I ’spose,” 
said Mark, with a sarcastic grin. 

“No, not exactly. He is the agent for a herdic com- 
pany in Michigan and has been out here several days. 
In the course of his speech he wanted to refer to some 
memoranda and couldn’t find it. He thought he must 
have lost it when at the Labor Temple a few days be- 
fore, because he remembered showing it to a committee. 
It was an important paper and his speech was spoiled 
because he couldn’t find it.” 

“And you had found it. Yes, I’ve seen it,” interrupted 
Mark; “Hooked over your shoulder the other day when 
you were sighing over it. I knew the writin’ because 
I’d seen it so often. John used to make squirrel traps 
and fishing tackle for me, so’s I would fetch you a note 
every day or two, you remember. I’ve got jest as long 
a memory as you have, Mary, but I thought the paper 
was a relic of your happy days. What did you do with 
it, anyway? Did you give it back to him?” 

“Yes, afterwards.” 

“Well, can’t you tell a feller what happened then; 
that’s what’s interestin’ me; that’s what I staid up to find 
out.” 

“Oh, it was all a mistake; John got a letter once 
signed with my name and asking him not to write any 
more. He showed it to me this evening, and the writing 
does look like mine, but he is satisfied now that I didn’t 
write it,” 

“Ya’as,” said Mark yawning, “your cousin Susie writes 
jest like you, an’ she always said she’d cut you out.” 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


61 


“Well, it’s all right now,” said Mary. 

“If that’s all there was of it, I’m sorry I staid up to 
hear it. Now, if I was in love I’d have an exciting 
story or I wouldn’t have one at all. Wish I went an’ 
told ma that time, she’d have put in all the necessary 
excitement,” said Mark, stretching his stiffened joints 
and unlocking the door. They both stole softly upstairs 
and succeeded in reaching their respective rooms with- 
out arousing anybody. 


62 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


CHAPTER IY. 

FARMER BURR’S EASTER OFFERING, 

Easter Sunday dawned brightly in the twin cities and 
promised a most favorable opportunity for the display 
of spring bonnets and dresses, The Burr family didn’t 
have any new raiment, but had been looking forward to 
Sunday, literally as a day of rest. 

“’Pears to me thet it took both of you a long time to 
get home last night. I fell asleep listenin’ for you,” 
remarked Mrs. Burr looking over the rim of her spec- 
tacles at her children. 

“Yes’m,” discreetly replied Mark, “Mary and I staid 
a long time on the back porch talkin’ and watchin’ the 
moonlight.” 

Mary took the first opportunity to slip out of the room 
and dress for church, so as to avoid any more questions. 

“Goin’ to church mother?” inquired Hezekiah as he 
and Mark came down stairs arrayed in their “Sunday go 
to meetin’ ” clothes, as they called them. 

“Not this morning,” answered Mrs. Burr, “but I’m 
goin’ with another lady to visit the prisoners at the 
lockup this afternoon. They say it’s just crowded.” 

So Hezekiah and Mark walked leisurely in the direc- 
tion of church, but met several people going toward 
south Washington avenue and heard that a lot of track 
had been torn up on the Riverside line the night be- 
fore. They couldn’t resist the temptation to join the 
crowd and soon found that about five thousand 
people had gathered on Washington avenue. The 
crowd kept moving in obedience to the orders of the po- 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


63 


lice, but there were murmurs of dissatisfaction. It had 
been reported that the cowboys would be sent back and 
not allowed to drive, but this morning several made 
their appearance as drivers and conductors on the River- 
side line. Every hour the crowd grew larger and more 
excited. A few stones were thrown at passing cars and 
the police telephoned to headquarters for reinforce- 
ments. 



About 11:30 two Riverside avenue cars were going 
south; as the first reached Eleventh avenue a crowd 
rushed to the center of the street and piled on the track 



64 A TALE OE THE TWIN CITIES. 

a lot of building ‘material taken from an unfinished 
building near by. The driver allowed the car to run 
into the obstructions. Stones and bricks began to fill 
the air. The horses broke away from the car, the driver 
and conductor followed. Huge timbers were placed 
under the car and a shout went up as it fell over on 
its side. The crowd then attacked the second car as it 
reached Tenth avenue, a squad of mounted police 
appeared in the distance, but the crowd closed around 
the car throwing stones and shouting. The driver and 
conductor fled. Some of the officers followed their ex- 
ample. In a moment the car lay on its side and the 
struggling horses were released and sent towards the 
barn. 

The mounted and foot police drew their clubs and 
dashed into the crowd; for about a half an hour the 
people surged hither and thither regardless of police and 
refusing to disperse. The patrol wagons carried full 
loads to the police station. Some of those arrested be- 
ing charged by the officers with tipping over the cars 
and disorderly conduct, but the great majority of the 
arrests were on the principle that if a man were 
among the crowd he was guilty and worthy of punish- 
ment. The excitement spread to all portions of the city 
and during the remainder of the day the principal 
streets were thronged with excited crowds, among whom 
the strikers were conspicuous by their absence. 

After the crowd partly dispersed from the vicinity of 
of the Riverside cars all cars in both cities ceased run- 
ning; although there had been no disturbance in St. 
Paul, 

Among the occupants of the first patrol wagon was 
our friend Hezekiah. He felt so bewildered that he 
hardly realized his position until he was thrust into a 
narrow, dirty cell and heard the clang of the barred 
door. Throwing himself on the narrow couch, he tried 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


65 


to arrange his confused ideas. It was of no use. The 
events of the past few minutes seemed distinct enough 
in his mind. But how came he in the lockup and for 
what reason? “I can’t figure it out,” he concluded with a 
groan, “but I’m thankful Mark ain’t here. He might feel 
like remindin’ me of thet advice I gave him about keepin’ 
out of trouble. I seem to hev fallen into grievious ways 
without knowin’ how it happened.” His melancholy re- 
flections were disturbed by the sound of scuffling in a 
corridor. Looking out he saw three officers dragging 
along a prisoner who struggled to get a way and pro- 
tested that he hadn’t done anything. The officers suc- 
ceeding in getting him inside a cell and departed giv- 
ing him a sharp tap with a club as a reminder of the 
majesty of the law. Hezekiah stared across the corridor 
in blank astonishment, could that be his son Mark, 
with torn and dusty clothes, a bruised face and hat 
crushed down over his ears ? A second glance assured 
him beyond doubt. He didn’t say anything but lay on 
his cot with face to the wall staring at nothing, too mis- 
erable to speculate as to what might become of him. 

All the cells were filled and around him rose a con- 
fused babel of sounds, singing, talking, swearing and 
praying; just as the inmates felt inclined, A sudden 
hush made Hezekiah sit up and look out to see what 
had happened. There stood his wife and another lady, 
Bible and hymn book in hand, exhorting and praying 
with the prisoners. Hezekiah wished the cell would 
collapse and crush him, feeling a reckless disregard of 
future existence, if only he could avoid Mrs. Burr’s just 
and holy indignation. In a moment she stood before 
him, in another she recognized Mark — but there are 
some scenes whose details may be supplied by the im- 
agination unaided by words. 

The prisoners passed the night in a state of suspense 
which made Hezekiah realize the feelings which must 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


have animated some of the wretches depicted in a por- 
tion of Dante’s Inferno. 

Mrs. Burr and her daughter passed the time in tears 
and lamentations. In the morning Mary told her 
mother briefly of her meeting with John Dean and 
thought he might be able to help them out of their 
trouble. Her mother thought so too aud Mary went 
down to the Labor Temple, found his address from the 
executive committee and despatched a messenger boy 
with a note explaining the circumstances. J ohn Dean 
visited the prisoners, hired a lawyer and made every 
possible arrangement for their trial. Mrs. Burr felt a 
little comforted when he called and told her what had 
been done. Mary’s practical nature wouldn’t let her be 
idle. Seeing that nothing more could be done at pres- 
ent for Hezekiah and Mark, she offered her services as 
usual to the executive board, thinking it her duty to 
help whenever she found work to do. 

Later she was appointed a committee of one to 
visit the capitol at St. Paul and take notes of the cir- 
cumstances attending whatever action might be taken 
on the bill repealing the act validating the city ordin- 
ance granting a franchise to the St. Paul street railway 
company. It will be remembered that this bill passed 
the house on the preceding Tuesday and the action of 
the senate was awaited with much interest in the Twin 
cities. A member of the St. Paul executive committee 
found her a seat on the lower floor. The bill which in- 
terested her did not come up until late in the afternoon, 
so that she had ample time to note every detail of the 
senate chamber. It seemed to her untutored mind 
much like an elaborately furnished school room and 
the senate like a badly disciplined lot of students. Each 
had his desk covered with newspapers and copies of 
bills. Some smoked and chatted with their nearest 
neighbors; others slept nearly all day only waking 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


67 


when some officious person ventured to arouse them in 
order to secure their vote on his particular measure. 
Mary thought perhaps constant attention to weighty af- 
fairs of state caused this exceeding weariness, but the 
messenger boy in the cloakroom said they had attended 
a banquet on the preceding Saturday evening where the 
liquid refreshments were not of the strictly prohibition 
complexion. A few made long speeches but nobody list- 
ened. Occasionally two or three of the dignified sena- 
tors got into an angry discussion and indulged in spicy 
if rather discourteous personalities. They did’nt pay 
any attention to the chair when he called them to order 
and sometimes told him that they knew more about 
parliamentary usage than he. A number of individuals 
seemed to be always flitting hither and thither like rest- 
less spirits, talking now with one senator now another. 
Mary found that these people are called lobbyists and 
that they are a regular feature of the biennial legisla- 
tive menagerie. 

When the franchise 
bill came up, the mayor 
of St. Paul, who was 
also a senator, thought 
the bill an outrage and 
was sure that so public 
spirited a citizen as Mr. 
Lowry ought to be en- 
couraged to amass some 
more shekels instead of 
having his franchise re- 
voked. Others urged 
that the ordinance giv- 
ing right of way to the 
street car company was 
illegal and had to be 
made legal by a special 



68 


A TALE OE THE TWIN CITIES. 


legislative process which the people had never been 
able to understand, and many thought it unlike Caesar’s 
wife in that it was not above reproach. After a long 
debate the vote was taken and the bill defeated by a 
vote of twenty-six to eight. So the street railway 
company could now rest assured that there was no 
danger of its franchise being revoked in either city and 
Mr. Lowry’s brow no longer wore the cloud of anxiety 
which had partially overshadowed his genial counte- 
nance for the past ten days. Mary hurried home as 
soon as possible in order to see how Mark and her 
father had fared. A glance at the afternoon papers 
showed her that the day had been an eventful one in 
the Flour city. Several classes of citizens having put 
themselves on record each in their own peculiar way. 
The powers that be had evolved from their inner con- 
sciousness, this set of rules for the future guidance of 
the police : 

To the Superintendent of Police : 

You are hereby ordered to instruct the members of the police 
force of this city as to their duties under the present state of dis- 
order in our city. 

First — If there is any member of the police department who is in 
sympathy with the disorderly element, and who cannot or does not 
implicitly and efficiently carry out the instructions given, ask for 
his immediate resignation, or suspend him pending investigation 
by this board. 

You will instruct your police to promptly arrest any person or 
persons talking to any street car employe while in performance of 
his duty as such, with the object of inducing him by threats, per- 
suasion, or by offering them money to leave the employ of the 
street car company, or to leave the car to obstruct said railway. 

If any person or persons obstruct the street railway track or in 
any way interfere with said cars or tracks, they are guilty of a 
felony, and must be promptly arrested and charged with the same. 

If crowds gather in the streets or upon the sidewalk, either for 
idle curiosity or with a view of interfering with the public travel, 
disperse them at once and arrest any and all who fail to obey your 
orders. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


69 

In case of an accident to a street car by derailment or other 
cause, where the car will obstruct travel or cause crowds to gather 
or create excitement, the police are required to render such assist- 
ance as required to replace the same and prevent such obstruction 
to public travel. 

You will also require your police to enforce all the laws and ordi- 
nances, and prevent all persons getting onto said cars, except for 
the purpose of ordinary travel or transportation. 

All commanding and subordinate officers will be held responsi- 
ble for the enforcement of the above orders. 

These orders will probably go down to posterity as a 
thrilling example of what odd results can be obtained 
when the conscientious and conservative city officials 
find existing ordinances not elastic enough to meet the 
emergency and attempts to originate a few on their own 
responsibility. 

Several thousand people left their work and gathered 
on Haymarket Square during the afternoon; no action 
of importance was taken except the unanimous passage 
of a resolution asking Mayor Babb’s resignation on the 
ground of general inefficiency. The board of trade 
seemed to have had one of its periodical fits of mental 
aberration. At its morning session a prominent mem- 
ber introduced the following resolutions: 

Whereas, A disorderly mob yesterday interfered with the run- 
ning of cars and motor line in this city, injured private property, 
obstructed the public high way, and offered forcible resistance to 
the officers of the law in the discharge of their duties; and 

Whereas, It is reported in the public prints that at a meeting of 
the “Trades and Labor assembly,” so-called, held yesterday even- 
ing, resolutions were adopted of an incendiary oharacter; now, 
therefore, 

Resolved, That this board of trade views with the utmost alarm 
the disposition shown by some of our citizens to encourage a spirit 
of lawlessness which surely tends to anarchy. 

Resolved, That we emphatically commend the efforts of the 
mayor and the police department of the city to maintain order and 
protect the rights of property and the public peace. 

Resolved, That we urge upon the Trades and Labor assembly to 
reconsider their position and be very careful that they do not put 


70 A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 

themselves in opposition to the fundamental principles of out re- 
publican form of government, and remind them that by sympathy 
with anarchy or communism they will forfeit the sympathy of all 
good citizens. 

Resolved, That we call upon all citizens and taxpayers and all 
public organizations of this city to unite in cordial support of law 
and its labors in the protection of private property and in repres- 
sion of all lawlessness, violence and sympathy with communism. 

Mary was rather surprised when she read the allus- 
ions to the Trade and Labor assembly because she had 
been an invited guest at their meeting on the previous 
evening and knew that the only action taken was the 
appointing of a committee to confer with Mr. Lowry 
and again urge arbitration. She wondered by what 
mental process this member of the board of trade ar- 
rived at the startling conclusions apparent in the resolu- 
tions. Reading a little farther she saw that the resolu- 
tions had called forth some curious statements from sev- 
eral members of the board; one blamed the newspapers 
for printing both sides of the question and thought that 
only the street railway company’s statements should 
have found space. Another said: “The mayor should 
have charge of the police. He has a claim on every 
citizen. Gentlemen, old as I am, I would stand at the 
front in the fight if he called on me. But I should want 
to name my captain. I would not want a man who said, 
'Don’t shoot.’ When this strike is costing the city 
$5,000 a day, it’s time to act and not a time to pass idle 
resolutions. Lowry can collect every cent he is losing 
off us as taxpayers. I would suggest that a body of 
citizens be appointed to wait on the mayor and ask 
him if he will preserve order if we will stand by him, 
and if he won’t there is the president of the council to 
fall back on, and if he can’t we can elect a man who 
can. We must act.” 

A recently elected member of the board dared to say : 
“I want the authorities to suppress anarchy on the part 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


71 

of the street railway company. I was chairman of the 
committee of citizens who called to see the mayor and 
he said tbit he sympathized with the strikers and I 
honor him for it. There is just as much anarchy in im- 
porting a mob of law breakers to run street cars as in 
anything else.” After a vast amount of debate the 
resolutions were tabled and the following adopted: 

Whereas, Mob rule has prevailed in this city during the past 
ten days and is becoming more bold and violent, and its final sup- 
pression seems more remote and more lively to lead to bloodshed 
at this time than at the beginning; therefore, 

Resolved, That the board of trade pledges its full support to 
Mayor Babb and the city authorities in any and all measures 
which may be found necessary or expedient for the prompt and 
full enforcement of the law, and the preservation of public order 
and private rights. 

Resolved, That it is the deliberate conclusion of this body that 
the course of the Tribune and Journal in this matter has been 
worthy of our severest condemnation, and it is our belief that an 
outspoken attitude in favor of law and order, and in condemnation 
of lawlessness assumed at the beginning of the strike by those 
papers, would have prevented most of the disastrous conditions 
of the present situation. 

Resolved, That all good citizens should endeavor to place the 
responsibility of the situation where it belongs, and should take 
such measures as may seem to them suitable to administer a fit- 
ting rebuke to those journals which, having power to do unlim- 
ited good or evil, have done chiefly evil.” 

Then a committee from the board of trade called on 
the mayor and chief of police to give them instructions 
about how to run the city and to impress upon them the 
fact that the board of trade were not in sympathy with 
the strikers. It was said that the mayor was not at all 
offended by the comments of this delegation of wealthy 
and influential citizens but informed them in a dignified 
way, “that when he took his seat he had assumed a 
solemn obligation to enforce laws and did not consider 
it necessary to sympathize with either side in the con- 
test.” He thanked the gentlemen for their sympathy 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


72 

and support, telling them that the police had now strict 
orders to right anything done wrong by the mob, and 
wondered if it might be advisable to call out the militia. 

Mary read the report with great interest and wished 
she could have an opportunity of seeing the board of 
trade in session. Judging from the tone of their argu- 
ments, it would be even more amusing than an hour 
in the senate. She did not know that the Minneapolis 
board of trade has acquired almost a national reputa- 
tion for its unique and courageous manner of handling 
questions of public interest which might puzzle a vet- 
eran diplomat. It never gets puzzled nor delays in 
pointing out a remedy. 

Mary glanced listlessly over the other columns of the 
paper. She was anxious to hear how her father and 
Mark fared, but didn’t think to look for the municipal 
court report in the paper which she held. John Dean 
had promised her to do all in his power for them and 
the novelty of the senate chamber distracted her 
thoughts somewhat during the day, but as the train 
drew near Minneapolis she grew impatient and blamed 
herself for letting the strikers’ affairs take her away 
from her own people to whom she owed the first duty. 
The tinge of Puritan melancholy in her character, filled 
her imagination with all sorts of dismal forebodings and 
it was a relief to find Mark waiting for her at the Union 
station: “I’m glad you are free,” she said, “where is 
pa?” 

“Fined one hundred dollars and sent to the work- 
house for ninety days,” answered Mark sadly. 

“Why how did that happen? I’m sure father didn’t 
do anything wrong,” queried Mary, the tears rising to 
her eyes at the mere mention of such a sentence. 

“He didn’t need to do anything wrong in order to get 
that— but we don’t want to talk here. Come home and 
I’ll tell you all about it,” he answered. 


A TALE OE THE TWIN CITIES. 73 

Mary stepped into the Labor Temple on her way 
home to tell what was done in St. Paul. Her report 
made the committee feel rather discouraged, the more 
so as they had just been rejoicing over* the departure of 
the cowboys. “We might have known better than to 
expect any legislation,” said one, “it was hoping against 
hope.” 

“Did you see our pictures?” said another coming in 
with a handful of tin types. “One of those travelling 
photographers was here this afternoon and all of the 
members of the board who happened to be present had 
their pictures taken. We were sorry that you were not 
here too” he said, handing her the pictures to keep as a 
souvenir of the events of the past few days. Mary put 
the pictures away with her books and asked for a leave 
of absence on account of her father’s misfortune. “We 
are sorry to hear this,” said the chairman, “be sure to 
let us know if we can be any service to you.” She 
promised and went out to find Mark grumbling at her 
delay and accusing her of not caring to know about 
Hezekiah’s trial. 

“Yes I am anxious about it” she replied “but 1 had to 
stay a few minutes in order to get some papers and ex- 
plain about matters in St. Paul. But why can’t ^you 
tell me about pa now, before we get home. I just 
dread to meet mother anyway. She’ll be sure to think 
there’s no hope.” 

“That’s just the way she feels,” said Mark, “Now if 
you won’t cry I’ll tell you about the trial.” 

Mary promised and with difficulty managed to keep 
her word. 

“Wa’al thet municipal court is a queer lookin’ place 
anyhow. Everything seems so old and dirty. There 
were a lot of cases before mine. The judge would 
listen while the policeman told what the prisoner did. 
The prisoner most always said he did’nt do anythin’ but 


74 A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 



R. PITCHER. H. B. MARTEN. 


he got a sentence jest the same. One feller said, ‘a man 
called me a scab because I drove a car so I got mad an’ 
hit him.’ The judge said the prisoner ought not to be 
fined for defendin’ his name and he let him go. An old 



M. NULTY. 


J. C. SHOW ALTER. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


75 


man got a heavy fine fer bein 
disorderly an’ he sassed the 
judge so he gave him ninety 
days extra. When they bro’t 
me up I was so scared I 
couldn’t speak. A policeman 
swore my name was Nels Ole- 
son an’ that I made a noise, 
but somehow he contradicted 
himself so bad about where 




he found me that it made the 
judge laugh an’ he dismissed 
me. I hung around the door 


D. C. MCDONALD. 

so as to see what’s become of 
pa. When Mark Burr was 
called he wasn’t to be found. 
Nels Oleson was there but 
he couldn’t talk any English. 
The policeman said he guess- 
ed he’d made a mistake. He 
come out to look for me an’ I 
made myself scarce.” 



w. s. HUME. 


76 A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 

“Didn’t yon stay to hear what became of father ? said 
Mary reproachfully. 

“Of course, I came right back jest as soon as the 
officer giv up lookin fur me an’ pa’s case come up in a 
few minutes. John Dean had hired a lawyer an pa 
walked up jest as independent 
like as if he owned the court. 

An officer swore that he heard 
pa yell “scab” and saw him throw 
a stone. A sergeant said he 
thought so too. Then pa denied 
throwin’ the stone and began to 
talk about his rights as an Am- 
erican citizen an’ I kuew by the 
way the judge smiled that it was - {>///,, 
all over with pa Burr. The judge emery smiled. 
judge always smiled when he was goin to giv a feller a 
big sentence.” 

“Wasn’t you with pa all the time? Didn’t you know 
he was innocent? Why didn’t you goin as a witness?” 
demanded Mary. 

“Oh you needn’t get so mad about it,” retorted Mark 
sullenly, “didn’t I jest see a witness arrested and sen- 
tenced jest for bein in the crowd at all? After bein’ 

lucky enough to get out» 
you don’t need to think 
I was goin’ to run the risk 
of gettin’ caught agen 
when it wouldn’t do no 
good. They wouldn’t hev 
believed me an’ besides I 
ain’t sure but pa did get 
excited and yell jnst like 
he said “scab” — got ninety years, the rest of the crowd.” 

“Well, go on, tell me what happened?” said Mary 
impatiently. 




A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 77 

“Wa’al pa’s lawyer kept objectin’ ancl questionin’ the 
officers and quotin’ points of law — the judge jest cut 
the whole argument short and sentenced pa to the work- 
house for nintey days and a fine of one hundred dollars. 
You orter seen pa wilt. But the officers jest hust- 
led him away an’ I didn’t see him agen. I knew Dean 
would look after him, though,” concluded Mark. 

“But it was quite unjust to give him so heavy a 
sentence. Even if he was among the crowd and maybe 
did get excited. Surely he can get a new trial or some- 
thing can be done,” said Mary, the corners of her mouth 
beginning to quiver. 

“Now Mary, you promised not to cry. Ma will do 
enough of thet fur both of you, nor you needn’t blame 
yourself fur not stayin home today. It wouldn’t hev 
done no good,” urged Mark. “Dean says he’ll find some 
way or other to get pa out in a few days.” 

On being sentenced to the workhouse Hezekiah was 
stunned and sullen at first but soon recovered at least a 
semblance of cheerfulness. The weeks were spent at 
hard work,' but he found time for much reflection. 
Never before had he felt so keen a sense of injustice as 
during these beautiful spring days. No message reached 
him from his family. His arrest and heavy fine severe- 
ly shook his faith in the infallibility of human law and 
its just administration. In the conversations with his 
fellow prisoners he found a grain of comfort in airing 
his version of political economy and the industrial sys- 
tem. 

“I tell ye boys, this ere strike raises a big question,” 
he was won’t to say, chewing a straw according to his 
old custom ; “of course I think those ere employes were 
unjustly used an’ so was I when I got sentenced to 
work out in this place. But after all, when I think it 
over quietly like I used to think over what I’d been 
readin by the fireplace in my little home in Maine — why 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


78 

I can’t help thinkin thet if the strike hed been settled 
next day an’ the boys hev gone back to work at their old 
wages, why the whole question wouldn’t hev been set- 
tled.” 

“Why? You don’t want the earth do you?” would be 
the pertinent query of his auditors. 

“No, no, boys, I’d be pretty near satisfied I could see 
some of my folks agen an’ I’d never grumble if we was 
back to our little farm in Maine. But talkin about the 
strike, don’t you see thet even if thet one strike had 
been settled all satisfactory, why another strike might 
take place if wages were cut agen or thet ironclad 
threatened?” 

“Well, what are you goin to do about it uncle Hez- 
ekiah?” 

“I dunno thet anything can be did about it until you 
get people educated to see thet strikes an’ other labor 
troubles are the result of the competitive system which 
makes labor a commodity to be bought at the lowest 
price. Then you see thet the employers are all workin’ 
to get rich an’ enlarge their business an’ they don’t hev 
the consideration thet they orter fer the people thet are 
workin’ fur them. The people stand it as long as they 
kin, then there’s a strike. All classes of people suffer 
by it but ten to one they jest patch up the difficulty 
some way an forget thet they leave the same causes 
right there.” Hezekiah would say, his eyes lighting up, 
his voice growing clearer and preparing to go into a 
long dessertation on his views of the industrial ques- 
tion. 

Just so sure as he did, the audience vanished, They 
liked to hear him talk for a few minutes, but soon grew 
weary of a discussion where the farmer from Maine did 
all the talking. 

“Thet’s the way. Can’t teach them nothin,” Hez- 
ekiah would sigh, “they can joke all they please,” he 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


79 

said one day, “but I can’t help thinkin’ thet it’s more 
the system than the people in it thet are responsible 
for the trouble. The employers an’ the men are jest 
about what their surroundin’s make them. I’m more 
sure than I am of Heaven thet this hull system will go 
and a better one take its place. But thet won’t be in 
my day an’ this kind o’ thinkin’ don’t get me out o’ the 
workhouse,” he concluded looking wistfully along the 
road leading to the city. 

Just then a buggy drove up to the workhouse. Mark 
and a lawyer arrived with papers for his release. 

“Where’s Mary?” was Hezekiah’s first question after 
being assured of his freedom. 

“Married and gone to Michigan,” replied Mark with a 
sly twinkle of the eye. 

Hezekiah was about to fly into a rage and express his 
unvarnished opinion of so undutiful a proceeding when 
he thought of Mrs Burr. “Where’s mother?” he paused 
to enquire. 

“Gone to Michigan to stay with Mary till you get 
out an’ earn money to go back to Maine,” answered 
Mark. “Don’t get mad about it pa,” he pleaded, noting 
the gathering storm, “it’s all my fault thet you didn’t 
hear about it. You see Dean hed to go right back to 
Michigan, so’s to keep his job an’ we didn’t hev any 
money to waste so ma agreed to let Mary marry him 
right away an’ she’d go an’ stay with them awhile an’ 
help Mary to get started to housekeeping.” 

“Thet’s all right. I hav’nt got no special objection to 
Mary marryin’ Dean for he’s a good, honest man, but 
yer might hev let dad know about it,” Hezekiah said in 
an injured tone. 

“Wa’al I was gointo tell you about thet,” said Mark, 
“they sent me with a letter to you an’ I lost the way an’ 
couldn’t find out jest how to send it so’s you’d get it. I 
wasn’t goin to let Dean know I was so green. So they 


82 A TALE OE THE TWIN CITIES. 

“ Speak to Dives of lifting up the plane of all the 
under-fed, under-paid, benighted millions of the earth— 
his fellow-men — to higher levels of comfort, and joy, and 
intelligence — not tearing down any but building up all 
— and Dives can not understand you. 

“ Ah, Dives ! consider, if there is no other life than 
this, the fate of these uncounted millions of your race ! 
What does existence give to them ? What do they get 
out of all this abundant and beautiful world ? 

“ To look down the vista of such a life as theirs is like 
gazing into one of the corridors of the Catacombs : an 
alley filled with reeking bones of dead men ; while from 
the cross-arches, waiting for the poor man’s coming on, 
ghastly shapes look out : — sickness and want and sin 
and grim despair and red-eyed suicide. 

“ Put yourself in his place, Dives, locked up in such 
a cavern as that, and the key thrown away !” 

‘‘Oh pa, what’s the use of gettin so down hearted about 
it,” said Mark yawning, as his father seemed inclined 
to read the whole book without stopping: “now I 
think some practical good is cornin’ as the result of this 
strike.” 

“Well, jest point out one little bit of good an’ I won’t 
say a word,” said Hezekiah lighting his pipe and pre- 
paring for an argument.. 

“Wa’al havn’t yer noticed all the people thet walk 
instedof patronizin’ the street cars?” queried Mark.* 

“Ya’as I did, ‘spose they got used to it durin’ the 
strike,” answered Hezekiah, “but what good will thet 
do?” 

“Only this, thet they’re waitin’ for the coaches to 
come. Then they’ll ride on coaches owned by a 
peoples’ stock company, they’ll jest let the street railway 
company manage its own business in its own way an’ 
they’ll manage theirs. ‘Tain’t likely that there will 
ever be another street railway strike in the Twin cities. 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 83 

Ap’ our family hez had experience enough with one ter 
think thet it ud be a sort of public blessin’ not to hev 
another,” said Mark with enthusiasm. 

Hezekiah couldn’t or wouldn’t look at the situation 
in that cheerful manner so he put out his pipe and 
stalked off grumbling inwardly about the impudence of 
young people of this generation who now presume to 
know more than their elders. Next morning he started 
out bright and early to look about the city and was 
absent all day. 

In the evening as he and Mark sat in their shabby 
room after supper, Hezekiah gave voice to the thoughts 
which had been troubling him all day. “It’s all right 
for you to stay here Mark,” he said. “You can find a 
better chance to make a livin’ here than back on the 
farm mebbe, but it’s different with mar’m an’ I we’re 
most too old to begin life over agen. We’ll go back, 
but it’s troublin’ me powerfully to know where the 
money is a cornin’ from to take us back. I can’t get 
nothin’ to do. I tried all day an’ there’s thousands of 
younger an’ smarter men than me who can’t get work.” 

“Say, dad!” exclaimed Mark as a remedy suggested 
itself to him, “you remember that slick young Fred 
Smith who persuaded you to endorse his note for five 
hundred dollars about a year ago an’ then skipped out.” 

“I guess I remember it, you don’t need to remind me 
o’ the details” answered Hezekiah wrathfully, “but 
what’s the good o’ cryin’ over spilt milk. The money 
is gone, but I do wish 1 hadn’t been so foolish as to 
endorse that note.” 

“I was only remindin’ you of it, because I’m sure I 
saw him in an office the other day when I went to 
collect some stock for the coach company. He didn’t 
see me. I made inquiries an’ found out thet he’s quite 
a respectable citizen out here. He’s vice president of 
a building and loan association an’ owns some real 


84 


A TALE OF THE TWIN CITIES. 


estate. I forgot to mention it when I came in. But 
let’s send a lawyer to him tomorrow an’ when he finds 
you mean business maybe he’d rather pay the money 
than hey the affair get into the papers.” said Mark 
laughing to think how crestfallen the brilliant Mr. 
Smith would look on the morrow. The plan seemed a 
good one and next day Mr. Smith concluded that he 
had three hundred dollars that he could spare. Also 
that he could give security for the balance.. “Of 
course,” he explained, “I always intended to pay it back 
but had so much business on hand that it rather slip- 
ped my mind.” 

“I begin to believe in the dispensations of Provi- 
dence again,” said Hezekiah a few days later as he 
checked his trunk for Michigan. “Although my faith 
has been sore shaken durin’ the past few weeks but I’m 
sure I never expected to see a cent o’ this money after 
thet feller got away from Maine. Now I kin buy Mary 
a weddin’ present an’ pay my bills an’ buy marm that 
new silk dress she’s been wantin so long,” and farmer 
Burr began to grow more cheerful as the clouds cleared 
away from his mental horizon 

A few week later loafers around the little station in 
Skowhegan were amazed to see Hezekiah and his wife 
step from the train. The news spread like wildfire 
through the little village. Friends and neighbors gath- 
ered around to hear their strange stories of distant 
western places and Hezekiah’ stales of the Twin cities 
and his melancholy predictions as to their future bid fair 
to raise him to the honorable and enviable position of 
village philosopher and prophet. 


THE 


4* 


-4- 


EDUCATIONAL 


Endowment : Association 

OF 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, 

550 TEMPLE COURT, 


A GRAND INVESTMENT. 

It has been the purpose of the Educational Endowment Asso- 
ciation, to provide a plan within the reach of the masses, for the 
purpose of accumulating savings for the education of their child- 
ren. The plan on which the Association has been working during 
the past six years is too costly for people of moderate means; and it 
is for their benefit, and with especial reference to their wants, that 
we present a new system in connection with the old, the salient 
features of which are given below: 

1st. Only One Dollar per share entrance fee. 

2nd. Only One Dollar per month per share as- 
sessment for any age. 

3rd. Only One Dollar per year per share annual 
dues. 

4th. In event of the death of beneficiary, the 
amount of assessments paid in, is refunded, or 
the certificate may be transferred to another 
child. 

5th. There is a cash withdrawal value of all 
shares at any time, and same stated on the cer- 
tificate. 

6th. The investment is equal to Building and 
Loan shares. 

It not only places our system within the reach of all , but it affords a 
golden opportunity as an investment. 

The cost is the same, regardless of age, but the value as an investment de- 
pends upon the length of time the certificate remains in force. 

In 8 years it is 12 9-10 per cent, in 10 years 18 9*10 per cent, and in 12 years 
15 per cent, simple interest investment, and no chance for loss either by death 

Or l3.pS0 

During the existence of any certificate the endower shall have the right to 
change the beneficiary therein, upon obtaining a new certificate and the pay- 
ment of all fines and annual dues in arrears and one dollar to the Secretary for 
each certificate, for transferring the same on the books of the Association. 

Good and reliable Agents wanted, to whom liberal 
contracts will be given. 

For particulars address, J MERRITT, 

Minneapolis, Minn, 


85 


Scandia Furniture Store, 

DEALER IN 

BABY CARRIAGES, 

Furniture 

Carpets, Pictures, Etc. 

Pictur# Frames made to order. All kinds of Repairing Done. 

UNDERTAKING A SPECIALTY. 


405 & 407 Cedar Are., • Next to Scandia Bank, 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 

N. L. ENG-ER, Propr. 

Gs£ an i 

THE LEADING PHOTOGRAPHER 

OF SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, 

We make a specialty of the highest grade of work. 

Pictures finished in India Ink, Crayon or Water Colors, at 
Reasonable Prices. 

251 CEDAR AVENUE, 


MINNEAPOLIS, 


MINNESOTA. 


v ESTABLISHED 1879. 


^K. ASLESEN,^ 

^Department ^tore. 

©roeeries, • Qroei^ery, 

GLASS AND SILTER WARE, 

AND BAKERY, at Wholesale and Retail. 


507, 509 & 511 Washington Ave. S. 



ople’s Mark 


627 Washington Ave. S., 



BAKER & CHANDLER, Prop’s. 


EVERYTHING IN THE LINE OF 

£resb and # G ure d ^ 7Vl ea t s 

AT REASONABLE PRICES. 

We have the best Refrigerator for keeping Meats in this city. 

We carry a Select Stock. 

We take orders and deliver in any part of the city 


Our Motto: “ Quick Bales and Small Profits for Ready Pay. 
87 


Ti\e tfeiq^icl] 

Hssoeic|tior| 

BREWERS OF 


EXTRA PALE 

AND 

STANDARD 


LAGER BEERS. 


BOTTLE BEER A SPECIALTY 

FAMILY TRADE ESPECIALLY SOLICITED. 

DELIVERED TO ALL PARTS OF THE CITY. 


Foot of 4th Street and 22nd Avenue South, 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 


TELEPHONE 39-2. 


P. O. BOX 195. 


-JOHN G. TAYLOR, President. F. FREMONT REED, Vice-President. 

J. B. BUTIN, Secretary. 

-*• THE 4*- 

Railway Building .# Loan Association 


OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 



702, 703, 703 A AND 704 A LUMB'R EXCHANGE BUILDING 

Our plan is conceded to be the safest and most profitable 
method of investing savings. All the shareholders are pro rata 
owners of all the assets of the Society. Every member is a part- 
ner in the enterprise in proportion to the amount paid in by him. 

The Minnesota Loan and Trust Company being the Trustee 
of the Association, and they becoming responsible for all securities 
and funds, which are deposited with them, makes every stock- 
holder doubly secure for every dollar invested. 

Members may withdraw the full amount paid into the Asso- 
ciation, with their proportion of profits, at any time; all stock 
being non-forfeitable. 

EXPENSE OF MANAGEMENT LIMITED. 

Dividends declared semi-annually. Our paid up stock will 
pay dividends of from 10 to 15 per cent annually. All persons 
desiring a profitable investment will please correspond with the 
Home Office. A number of reliable men accustomed to field work 
and organizing, can secure good Territory, for which liberal terms 
will be made. Write us or call at the Home Office. 



THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO EXAMINE THE 
MAMMOTH STOCK AT THE 

Brighton Store 

J. C. HARPER & CO., 

Wholesale and Retail Dealers in 

DRY GOODS, ® MILLINERY, * NOTIONS, 

AND GENTS FURNISHINGS, 

519 & 521 Washington Ave. S., 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 


GO TO 

GUST. HALMEAST, 

Tt|e ® Pt]o|og^qpT|0i<, 

FOR A FIRST CLASS FINISHED CABINET PHOTO. 

$2.00 per doz, 

NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR RE-SITTING. 

Cor. Sixth. Ave. South and Washington. 
B. W. ROBERTS, 

Agent for Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy’s 

“ Christian Science and the Bible.” 

WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES. 

I also treat all Chronic Diseases. 

I treat cases only where the doctor has failed. 

No cure, no pay. Consultation free. 

B. W. ROBERTS, 


90 


29 Nicollet Avenue. 


Tbos. GiifK 4» G°- 


42 THIRD ST. S. 



Have now ready and will be issued next month, a new 
and interesting novel, entitled 


BREAKING THE CHAINS ! 

BY T. FULTON GANTT. 

This work was published in Germany by Herr Leib- 
neclit, but was soon suppressed by Bismarck. It treats 
almost entirely of the organization of labor, and the 
necessity for such. 

Single copies, 25c. Liberal discount to the trade. 

A TALEOFTHETWIN CITIES 

BY EVA GAY. 

Now ready. Send in your orders. Selling fast. . Reg- 
ular discount to dealers and news agents. 

Address, 

THOS. A. CLARK & 00. 
Minneapolis, Minnesota. 


A specialty of Gold Crown and Bridge Work, or Teeth without Plates. 
Painless Method used. 

£)i^. Sutherland, 

Dentist, 

(Formerly of 38 Washington Avenue South,) 

427 & 429 Nicollet Avenue, 

Over Yerxa’s Grocery Store. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. 

91 


One line will be running by July 1, 1889. Other lines will be 
put on as fast as the stock can be sold. These coaches do not cost 
but about one-half as much to operate as a street railway, and the 



lines in this city will pay a large interest on amount invested. Buy 
this stock, help on the work, put your means in a safe and paying 
investment, and build up the city. jos L.. FLENNER, 
Room 610 Wright Block. Secretary. 



NOW IS YOUR TIME 


Laboring Ken, mechanics, Clerks and Business Men, 

GET A HOME OF YOUR OWN 


ONLY 


REQUIRED 


Balance on Terms to Suit Yourself. 



Laboring men are as welcome as millionaires. No restrictions 
as to the cost of your cottages. This is virtually the place for the 
people. Do you want a pleasant home? Look at this property 
and be convinced. Do you desire a spot where you can dwell 
enjoying the fresh air, pure water, splendid fishing and boating, to 
the same extent as the millionaire at Saratoga? Here you have it 

300 LAKE SHORE LOTS FROM $200 TO 

Investigation invited. Free transportation. For particulars 
call on or address 

JACOB BA 


49 Washington Ave. S. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


Boston 

Ice 


0 001 483 551 9 •« 


S. j. BARTLETT, Pres. 

E. E. BARTLETT, Yice-Pres. 
L. B. BARTLETT, Bee. &Tree. 
ED. TAYLOR, Mngr. 

ROBT. TAYLOR, Asst. Mngr. 




Co. 



(CO-OPERATIVE.) 


Dealers in CALHOUN and 

LONG LAKE ICE 


Special rates given to large consumers on application. 

Pure, Clean Ice as cheap as the cheapest. 

Notice of change of delivery or absence should be sent to the 

offiC e * 

Complaints of every nature we particularly request to be in- 
formed of at once. 


Office: 323 Hennepin Ave. 

TELEPHONE $00-2. 


